Nepal minister killed in helicopter crash

KATHMANDU: Nepal tourism minister Rabindra Adhikari and six others were killed when a helicopter carrying them crashed near Pathibhara in Taplejung district.

Pratap Babu Tiwari, the spokesperson for Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), confirmed that all seven on board have been killed in the crash that took place when Adhikari’s team was returning to the capital Kathmandu after offering prayers at Pathibhara temple.

Others on board were the pilot Capt Prabhakar K C, tourism entrepreneur Ang Chhiring Sherpa, security personnel Arjun Ghimire, Prime Minister K P Oli’s close aide Yubaraj Dahal, deputy director general of CAAN Birendra Shrestha, and CAAN engineer Dhruba Das Bhochhibhaya.

Moments after it was reported missing, local residents in Pathibara area informed the police about a huge fire at the crash site. There is a huge snowfall in the forest area where the helicopter crashed, Umanath Paudel, a health worker at Pathibhara Mandir who witnessed the crash, said.

Adhikari, a popular youth leader and promising face in Oli’s cabinet, was planning to fly to Panchthar to observe the progress of construction of an airstrip at Chuhan Danda.

This is the second helicopter accident in Nepal and 60th accident in Nepal aviation history in last 70 years. Nepali skies have claimed the lives of more than 750 people in 60 air accidents.