Chennaiite Killed As 2 Helicopters Collide Near Mt Everest
Preliminary reports indicate that the rotor blades of the two helicopters struck each other during the landing manoeuvre.
CHENNAI: A 47-year-old Chennai resident, Vasanth Kumar Balaramaramadu, was killed and three others were injured when two helicopters collided while attempting to land at Pheriche helipad in Nepal’s Solukhumbu district on Tuesday morning.
Balaramaramadu was travelling aboard a helicopter operated by Fishtail Air. The accident occurred at 8.11 am (local time) when the helicopter collided with another helicopter operated by Air Dynasty at the helipad in Khumbu Pasang Lhamu rural municipality.
According to sources, a 49-year-old passenger, Shailesh Krishna Patel, a New Zealand resident of Indian origin, and both helicopter pilots, Rabindra Prajapati and Prajwal K.C., suffered injuries.
Patel and one of the pilots were airlifted to Mediciti Hospital in Kathmandu for treatment, while the other pilot was taken to a hospital in Lukla. The body of Balaramaramadu was initially taken to a hospital in Lukla.
Preliminary reports indicate that the rotor blades of the two helicopters struck each other during the landing manoeuvre. Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority has initiated an investigation into the accident to establish the exact cause.
Pheriche, located in the Everest region, is a popular stop for trekkers and climbers heading towards Mount Everest base camp. Helicopters are frequently used in the region to transport tourists and facilitate rescue operations.
