Nepal tourism minister Rabindra Adhikari was killed in a helicopter crash, the Hindustan Times reported.
Hindustan Times understood that the tourism minister and other officials had planned to visit Pathibhara Temple before flying to Panchthar to observe the under-construction airport at Chuhan Danda.
Others on board the helicopter with the minister were the pilot, captain Prabhakar KC, tourism entrepreneur Ang Chhiring Sherpa, security personnel Arjun Ghimire, the prime minister’s close aide Yubaraj Dahal, deputy director general of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Birendra Shrestha, and CAAN engineer Dhruba Das Bhochhibhaya.
All seven on board the helicopter were killed in the crash near Pathibhara in Taplejung district, the article said quoting a CAAN spokesperson.
The crash reportedly happened when Adhikari’s team was returning to Kathmandu after offering worship at the temple.
Moments after the helicopter was reported missing, local residents in the Pathibara area informed the police about a huge flame at the crash site.
The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Minister has called an emergency cabinet meeting at the official residence of the prime minister in Baluwatar, according to Hindustan Times.
