Indian Tourist Killed, Three Injured as Two Helicopters Collide in Nepal’s Mount Everest Region

An Indian tourist was killed and three others sustained injuries after two helicopters collided while landing in Nepal’s Solukhumbu district on Tuesday morning.

The deceased has been identified as Vasanth Kumar Balaramaramadu, an Indian national who was travelling aboard a Fishtail Air helicopter. According to Inspector Mausam Tamang, as reported by The Kathmandu Post, the body of the deceased tourist was taken to a hospital in Lukla.

Shailesh Krishna Patel, a New Zealand citizen of Indian origin who was also aboard the same helicopter, sustained injuries in the collision. He was airlifted to Mediciti Hospital in Kathmandu in a Prabhu Air helicopter.

Both pilots involved in the collision also sustained minor injuries and were taken to Kathmandu for further medical treatment.

According to the District Police Office, the helicopters operated by Air Dynasty and Fishtail Air collided at around 8:11 am while attempting to land at Pheriche in Ward No. 4 of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality.

Nabin Raja Budhathoki, in-charge of Solukhumbu District Police, told AFP that one foreign national died at the scene, while another injured person was rushed to the hospital.

The exact number of passengers aboard the two helicopters at the time of the collision is yet to be confirmed.