Private helicopter crashes in Nepal; 1 killed, four injured: Official

Kathmandu, May 5 (PTI): A helicopter belonging to a private Nepalese helicopter service provider crashed in eastern Nepal on Friday, killing one person and leaving four others, including the pilot, injured, an official statement said.

The crash happened near the Bhotekhola River in the Sankhuwasabha district while the helicopter carrying construction materials for an under-construction hydro project along with the pilot and four other passengers hit a tree near the waterway when it was landing.

One of the helpers named Bhawin Gurung of Simrik Air helicopter, succumbed to his injuries.

“The crash happened on Friday afternoon around 1.20 pm and in the accident, four people, including the pilot of Simrik Air helicopter, were injured while one of the helpers was killed while undergoing treatment at the hospital,” said the statement from the district administration.

Apart from the deceased, the other four onboard the helicopter have been identified as Captain Surendra Paudel, crew members Tshering Bhote and Manoj Thapa and Nepal Electricity Authority employee Bikram Shankar, the Kathmandu Post newspaper reported.

According to the official statement, the helicopter crashed near the Bhotekhola River in Sankhuwasabha district while landing.

Senior officials at the site said that of the four passengers two received serious injuries while the rest have got minor injuries.

Brigadier General Krishna Prasad Bhandari, who is also the spokesperson of the Nepalese Army, said that Army personnel have been deployed along with its helicopter for rescue efforts.

The helicopter was carrying construction materials belonging to the Upper Arun Hydro project, being constructed by a Nepalese company.