Two helicopters collided Tuesday while attempting to land near Mount Everest's base camp, resulting in one death and two injuries. The aircraft were transporting trekkers during Nepal's busy trekking season.
The crash occurred in Pheriche village, situated at an altitude of 4,200 meters (13,780 feet). The deceased tourist has been identified as Vasant Kumar Balara Madu, a 47-year-old from India. A passenger from New Zealand, identified as Shailesh Krishna Patel, sustained injuries and is being transported to Kathmandu for treatment. A Nepali pilot also suffered injuries but received local medical attention.
Helicopters are crucial in the Everest region as there are no roads, serving as the sole method for evacuating sick or exhausted trekkers and guides. The Everest base camp trek typically lasts up to two weeks and originates from the Lukla airstrip, with base camp located at 5,300 meters (17,380 feet). The fall season is a popular time for this trek, following the monsoon and preceding the harsh winter.
Nepal's mountainous terrain and unpredictable weather patterns create hazardous conditions for aviation. Small helicopters are commonly used for transporting tourists, supplies, and conducting emergency evacuations in the Himalayan nation, which is home to eight of the world's 14 highest mountains.
The collision took place on a snowy site in the Solukhumbu district around 8:11 a.m. local time.