New Delhi:
A helicopter carrying the Nepalese Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari crashed near Pathibhara in Taplejung district of the country. The Air Dynasty helicopter is known to have been carrying five other passengers at the time of the incident.
Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs Prem Kumar Rai confirmed with local media that the helicopter carrying Minister Adhikari and five others has gone missing. Adhikari and his team were on an inspection visit of a domestic airport, as reported by The Himalayan Times reported.
Travelling with Adhikari were the pilot of the helicopter Captain Prabhakar KC, tourism entrepreneur Ang Chhiring Sherpa, security personnel Arjun Ghimire, Prime Minister’s close aide Yubaraj Dahal, Birendra Shrestha, and one other person.
The Chief District Officer of Taplejung, Anuj Bhandari quoted the locals as saying they heard a loud bang followed by a sight of smoke and fire in the area. It has been learnt that the tourism minister along with other officials had planned to visit Pathibhara Temple and then fly to Panchthar to observe the under-construction airport at Chuhan Danda.
The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Minister has summoned an emergency cabinet meeting at the official residence of the Prime Minister in Baluwatar.
