Helicopter with 24 on board missing in Nepal

A private helicopter carrying 24 people, including a junior minister and staff of a nature conservation group, disappeared in eastern Nepal.

A private helicopter carrying 24 people, including a junior minister and staff of a nature conservation group, disappeared in eastern Nepal on Saturday, a government minister and media reports said.

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Tourism minister Pradip Gyanwali confirmed media reports that the aircraft had been missing since noon local time.

"Yes, it is missing," he told Reuters, but could give no further details.

TheHimalayan Times online service said junior forestry minister Gopal Rai was among 24 people on board the helicopter which went missing in the Taplejung district, 300 km east of the capital, Kathmandu.

The helicopter was also carrying staff of the WWF global environmental conservation group, the report said.