Update: Minister Level Emergency Meeting in Singha Durbar
Update: All onboard Six Passenger DEAD
A helicopter ferrying the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari has crashed near Pathibhara in Taplejung district.
The Air Dynasty helicopter is known to have been carrying five to six other passengers at the time of the incident. Travelling with Minister Adhikari were the pilot of the helicopter Captain Prabhakar KC, tourism entrepreneur Ang Chhiring Sherpa, security personnel Arjun Ghimire, Prime Minister’s close aide Yubaraj Dahal, Birendra Shrestha, and one other person.
Taplejung District Administration Office fears that an accident might have occurred. The Chief District Officer of Taplejung Anuj Bhandari quoted the locals as saying they heard a loud bang followed by a sight of smoke and fire in the area.
It has been learnt that the tourism minister along with other officials had planned to visit Pathibhara Temple and then fly to Panchthar to observe the under-construction airport at Chuhan Danda.
Authorities have rushed to the incident site.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Minister has summoned an emergency cabinet meeting.