Tearful Goodbye: Lt Colonel Deepika Bids Farewell to Husband Killed in Kedarnath Crash

Heart-wrenching scenes unfolded in Jaipur as Lt Colonel (Retd.) Rajveer Singh Chauhan, the pilot who died in a helicopter crash in Kedarnath, Uttarakhand, was laid to rest. Chauhan was among seven victims of the tragic incident on June 15. Visuals of his wife, Lt Colonel Deepika Chauhan, clutching his garlanded photograph and holding back tears during the funeral procession have moved the nation.

The helicopter, belonging to Aryan Aviation, crashed while returning from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi amid sudden adverse weather. District Tourism Officer Rahul Chaubey confirmed that the pilot attempted to navigate through the challenging conditions but failed, resulting in the fatal crash.

Among the deceased were 35-year-old pilot Rajveer Chauhan, a family of three from Maharashtra—Rajkumar Jaiswal, his wife Shradha, and their two-year-old daughter Kashi—along with 66-year-old Vinod Devi, her 19-year-old granddaughter Tusti Singh, and Vikram, a temple committee member.

The funeral in Shastri Nagar was attended by Rajasthan Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and members of the armed forces, adding solemnity to the emotional farewell. Deepika Chauhan’s brave yet tearful walk leading the procession, holding her husband’s framed photo, symbolizes the grief and sacrifice of India's armed forces families.

#WATCH | Jaipur, Rajasthan: Lt Colonel Rajveer Singh Chauhan (Retd) was one of the seven people who died in a helicopter crash in Kedarnath, Uttarakhand on June 15.

Visuals from Shastri Nagar as his wife, Lt Colonel Deepika Chauhan, Rajasthan Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore… pic.twitter.com/iudUvCoHhM
— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2025