Indian national killed, several injured after two helicopters crash while landing in Pheriche near Everest

KATHMANDU: An Indian national was killed after two helicopters collided while attempting to land at Pheriche, near Mount Everest in Nepal. Nepal Police stated that three other individuals were injured in the incident. The helicopters involved belonged to Fishtail Air and Air Dynasty. The collision occurred as the aircraft attempted to land on a snow-covered helipad in Pheriche, located in the Solukhumbu district.

An Indian passenger aboard the Fishtail Air helicopter died on the spot. Three people, including the pilot of the Air Dynasty helicopter, suffered injuries. According to a report from Kathmandu Post, the Solukhumbu Police Chief, Mausam Tamang, identified the Indian as Vasanth Kumar Balaramaramadu. Indian-origin New Zealander Shailesh Krishna Patel, who was in the same helicopter, was seriously injured. He was taken to Medicity Hospital in Kathmandu in another helicopter. The footage of the helicopter collision is circulating on social media.