Helicopter service has to wait for 3 days to take off

BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, June 10

A private helicopter had to wait for three days at the Dharchula helipad to get passengers for Gunji and the Darma valley. On the third day today, 12 passengers took the flight from Dharchula to Gunji declaring the beginning of the service, sources in the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVL) that manages the helicopter service from Dharchula and Munsiyari said here today.

The helicopter service has picked up from today as 12 passengers reached Gunji from Dharchula. It is beginning of the service to higher valleys during monsoon and will continue till July 31,” KMVN Nainital General Manager TS Martolia said.

The helicopter company has fixed a one-side fare of Rs 5,750, for Dharchula to Gunji or to the Darma valley while locals are demanding a fare of Rs 2,500. “We are demanding the one side fare of Rs 2,500 from Dharchula to Gunji or the Darma valley as the helicopter company had charged Rs 2,500 on the same route last year during the monsoon or before the natural disaster in the subdivision,” said Deepak Ronkali, a resident of Dharchula town.

The state government had allowed a private company to run helicopter service to high Himalayan villages of Darma and Gunji on the demand of local residents. “The helicopter will ply in Dharchula for three days and between Munsiyari and Johar valley villages on the next three days,” said Martolia.