A 47-year-old Indian national was killed after two helicopters collided while attempting to land near Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal on Tuesday, November 3.
The accident took place at Pheriche, a village in the Solukhumbu district located along the route to Everest Base Camp. The helicopters were operated by Fishtail Air and Air Dynasty, according to local authorities.
The deceased was identified as Vasanth Kumar Balaramaramadu, who was travelling aboard the Fishtail Air helicopter. Another passenger, Shailesh Krishna Patel, a 49-year-old Indian-origin resident of New Zealand, was injured in the collision and airlifted for medical treatment.
According to the District Police Office in Solukhumbu, the collision occurred at around 8:11 am local time on Tuesday.
Both helicopters were attempting to land at Pheriche, situated at an altitude of approximately 4,200 metres. The area lies around 150 kilometres northeast of Kathmandu and is a key stop on the trekking route to Everest Base Camp.
Nepalese pilots Rabindra Prajapati of Fishtail Air and Prajwal KC of Air Dynasty were also injured in the incident. They were taken to Kathmandu for further treatment.
The exact number of people aboard both helicopters has not yet been confirmed by authorities.
Preliminary information suggests that communication between the pilots may have played a role in the collision.
According to reports citing Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority, the area is outside the coverage of Lukla Airport’s air traffic control tower. Pilots operating in the region therefore need to communicate with one another while approaching and landing.
Authorities are recording the statements of the injured pilot as part of the investigation. The cause of the collision has not been officially established.
Helicopters are widely used in Nepal’s Himalayan region to transport trekkers, climbers and supplies, as well as to evacuate people who become ill or exhausted at high altitude.
Pheriche is a popular stop along the Everest Base Camp trekking route. The region’s challenging terrain, rapidly changing weather and limited road access make helicopter operations particularly important—and hazardous.
The incident occurred during Nepal’s busy autumn trekking season, when thousands of visitors travel through the Everest region.
Source: News18, PTI, AP and other media reports.