Indian Army's Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv have been cleared for operations in and around Srinagar and adjoining areas of Jammu and Kashmir, defence officials said. The deployment comes in response to ongoing counter-terrorism operations following the deadly terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam. 

Terrorists struck at a prime tourist location in Pahalgam in south Kashmir on Tuesday, killing at least 26 persons, mostly tourists, and injuring several others.

The move marks a significant development, as the ALH Dhruv fleet had been grounded for over two months after a crash involving Indian Coast Guard officers near Porbandar. 

The Dhruv ALH, a twin-engine aircraft designed and built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), has long been a workhorse for the Indian armed forces, supporting missions ranging from troop transport to search-and-rescue operations. However, a crash early January 2025 brought serious safety concerns to light.

Why was Dhruv ALH grounded?

The January 5 crash, which involved an Indian Coast Guard ALH near Porbandar, exposed a critical flaw in a component known as the "swashplate" — an essential part of the helicopter’s transmission system that controls the movement of the rotor blades. Often described as the helicopter's equivalent of a steering wheel, the swashplate's failure can lead to catastrophic loss of control.

A detailed investigation revealed that a fractured swashplate caused the crash. However, the underlying reason for the fracture remains unclear. Experts are still probing whether material defects, operational stress, or environmental factors like exposure to salty air may have contributed to the failure.

The situation became more alarming after a fleet-wide inspection discovered cracks in swashplates on other Navy and Coast Guard ALH helicopters, particularly those operating in maritime environments.

As a precaution, the entire Dhruv ALH fleet was grounded, not due to inherent design flaws, but to prioritize the safety of pilots and crews until the root cause of the failures is fully understood and resolved.