Kathmandu: An Indian tourist was killed and several others were reported injured after two helicopters collided while approaching a landing area at Pheriche in Nepal's Solukhumbu district on Tuesday morning.
The accident occurred at around 8:11 am local time in the Mount Everest region, a popular destination for international trekkers and mountaineers. The helicopters involved were operated by two private aviation companies, Fishtail Air and Air Dynasty.
The deceased was identified as Vasanth Kumar Balaramaramadu, a 47 year old Indian national reportedly from Tamil Nadu. He was travelling aboard a helicopter operated by Fishtail Air when the collision occurred.
Another passenger, Shailesh Krishna Patel, aged 49, a New Zealand citizen of Indian origin, was also injured. He was evacuated for medical treatment and later taken to Nepal Mediciti Hospital in Lalitpur, near Kathmandu.
The helicopter pilots were also reported to have sustained injuries. However, initial reports differed over the number of injured people and the condition of the pilots. Authorities had not yet released a final confirmed casualty figure.
Preliminary information indicated that the rotor blades of the two helicopters struck each other as the aircraft approached the landing area. The helicopters were reportedly approaching from different directions when the collision occurred.
Following the accident, a helicopter operated by Prabhu Air was used to evacuate the injured for medical attention. The deceased person's body was reportedly transported from the accident area as rescue and emergency response operations continued.
Nepal's Civil Aviation Authority has initiated an investigation into the incident to establish the circumstances surrounding the collision. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft movements, landing procedures and other operational factors that may have contributed to the accident.
The exact cause of the collision has not yet been established. Authorities have not confirmed whether pilot actions, communication difficulties, visibility or other operational factors played a role. The investigation is expected to provide further details about how the two helicopters came into contact.
Pheriche is a mountain settlement in the Khumbu region of northeastern Nepal. It is an important stopping point for trekkers travelling towards Mount Everest Base Camp and is frequently used by climbers and support teams during their journeys through the Himalayas.
Helicopters play an important role in the region because of its mountainous terrain and limited road access. They are commonly used to transport tourists, mountaineers, food and equipment. They also provide emergency evacuation services for trekkers and guides who suffer injuries or develop altitude sickness during expeditions.
The accident occurred during Nepal's busy autumn trekking season, when large numbers of international visitors travel through the Everest region. Recent snowfall had affected parts of the trekking route, although weather conditions had reportedly improved in the days before the collision. There is no confirmation that weather conditions contributed to Tuesday's accident.
The incident has renewed attention on the challenges of helicopter operations in Nepal's high altitude mountain regions, where aircraft frequently operate in difficult terrain and use relatively small landing areas.
Nepalese aviation authorities are continuing their investigation, and further information about the injured pilots and the circumstances of the collision is expected as more details become available.