A heart-wrenching scene unfolded in Rajasthan’s Jaipur as Lieutenant Colonel Deepika Chauhan bid a tearful farewell to her husband, Lt Col (Retd) Rajveer Singh Chauhan, who died in a tragic helicopter crash near Kedarnath on June 15. The funeral took place with full military honors as friends, family, and dignitaries gathered to pay their respects.
Wearing her Army uniform, Lt Col Deepika Chauhan was seen weeping beside her husband’s coffin, later leading the funeral procession while carrying his photograph. The former Army officer was piloting a Bell 407 helicopter operated by Aryan Aviation when it crashed near Gaurikund in Rudraprayag district during a routine Kedarnath-to-Guptkashi flight. The crash claimed the lives of seven people, including a two-year-old child.
Rajasthan Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, along with several other political leaders and military veterans, attended the solemn event, underscoring the gravity of the loss.
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Lt Col (Retd) Rajveer Chauhan had served the Indian Army with distinction for 15 years before transitioning to civil aviation. He joined Aryan Aviation Pvt. Ltd. in October 2024 and had accumulated over 2,000 hours of flying experience. According to his LinkedIn profile, Chauhan played a significant role in planning and executing flight missions across challenging terrains, with contributions that extended beyond aviation into rural development and public welfare.
The couple’s story was one of endurance and hope. They became parents just four months ago after 14 years of marriage, a detail that added to the emotional weight of the loss.
Following the crash, the Uttarakhand government suspended all helicopter operations on the Char Dham Yatra route for two days as a precaution. A high-level investigation into the cause of the crash has also been ordered.
The nation mourns the loss of a committed officer whose legacy is marked by service, sacrifice, and devotion—both in uniform and beyond.
