New Delhi, June 9 -- Reaffirming its steadfast commitment to aviation safety, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday ordered special audits and enhanced surveillance of helicopter operators conducting shuttle and charter services during the ongoing Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand.

The move comes after several recent incidents involving helicopter operations in the hill state.

The aviation watchdog has also suspended the operations of Kestrel Aviation Private Limited with immediate effect after one of its helicopters made an emergency landing in the middle of a highway in Guptkashi on June 7. Five passengers on board the chopper, en route to Kedarnath from Rudraprayag, narrowly escaped.

"This is in addition to the sus...