4 killed in Nepal chopper crash, second such accident in a month

Four persons including a woman were killed when the helicopter they were travelling in crashed in Sindhupalchowk district of Nepal on Tuesday afternoon.

Updated on: Jun 2, 2015, 20:27:35 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Four persons including a woman were killed when the helicopter they were travelling in crashed in Sindhupalchowk district of Nepal on Tuesday afternoon.

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Initial reports say the helicopter belonging to private operator Mountain Air was on a mission to provide relief to quake affected areas when it hit an electric wire and crashed around 4:10pm (IST).

"The accident took place at Balekhi. Bodies of four persons have been found at the crash site," said Nepal Police spokesperson Kamal Singh Bam. Rescue efforts are underway.

News reports quoting local witnesses say the chopper caught fire after it crashed into a hill. The bodies of three persons were completely burnt while the fourth victim was found in partially burnt condition.

This is the second helicopter crash in Nepal since the April 25 earthquake. On May 12, another helicopter belonging to US Marines had crashed during a relief operation.

Burnt bodies of six US Marines and two Nepal Army personnel were recovered from the crash site four days later. The reason for the accident is yet to be ascertained.

Earlier on Tuesday another tragedy was averted when a Let L-410 aircraft belonging to a private operator Goma Air made an emergency landing in Pokhara airport after its nose gear failed to deploy.

All 18 passengers on the plane on way from Jomsom to Pokhara escaped unhurt after the plane skidded on the runway before coming to a halt.

Read:

All 8 on board crashed US military chopper dead: Nepal Army

Nepal army finds wreckage of missing US chopper

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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