CHENNAI/KATHMANDU: A 47-year-old Chennai tourist was killed and another passenger injured when two helicopters collided while landing on Tuesday in Nepal's Solukhumbu district, the police said.
Indian authorities are working in close coordination with Nepali officials for the early repatriation of the mortal remains of the deceased, B Vasanth Kumar, the Indian Embassy in Nepal said.
Vasanth had been living in Canada with his wife and 12-year-old son for the past seven years. He was a stay-at-home dad who took care of his son, who had health complications.
Vasanth, who had flown to Nepal from Canada, had called his aged parents Balaramanadu (80) and Parameshwari (74) in Chennai on Monday. His wife has been informed, the police said. Vasanth's younger brother lives in the UK. On the request of Vasanth's parents, the Tamil Nadu government is coordinating with Nepal authorities to bring his mortal remains to Chennai.
The two helicopters collided while landing at Pheriche in Ward 4 of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality of Solukhumbu district on Tuesday, according to a Nepal Police statement.
The helicopters, operated by Fishtail Air and Air Dynasty, collided at around 8.11 am (local time), according to the District Police Office, Solukhumbu. Both helicopters took off from Lukla Airport, the gateway to Mt Everest. Police Inspector Mausam Tamang said Vasanth Kumar was aboard the Fishtail Air helicopter.
Shailesh Krishna Patel, a 49-year-old Indian-origin resident of New Zealand who was also aboard the same helicopter, was injured in the collision. He was airlifted to Mediciti Hospital in Kathmandu by a Prabhu Helicopter, Tamang said.
Nepalese pilots, Rabindra Prajapati of Fishtail Air and Prajwal KC of Dynasty Air, were also injured in the incident and have been taken to Kathmandu for further treatment. Dynasty Air helicopter was carrying cargo.
Pheriche lies on the way to the Mt Everest Base Camp, 150 km northeast of Kathmandu.
The police said Vasanth’s body was taken to a hospital in Lukla and was soon be sent to Kathmandu for postmortem.
The number of passengers aboard the two helicopters at the time of the collision has yet to be confirmed.