Indian tourist killed, PIO injured as copters collide during Everest rescue

A 47-year-old tourist from Chennai was killed and two others - an Indian-origin New Zealand citizen and a pilot - were injured when two helicopters collided barely about 10 feet above a helipad near Mt Everest on Tuesday. The accident occurred around 8.11am at Pheriche, 12km south of Everest Base Camp, as one helicopter was evacuating tourists stranded by heavy snowfall and the other was carrying cargo.The rotor blades of the two choppers struck each other as both aircraft attempted to land, sending them crashing onto the snow-covered helipad. Aviation authorities suspect miscommunication between the pilots, who were operating beyond the coverage of the nearest air traffic control tower in Lukla - gateway to the Everest region. The accident is believed to be Nepal's first mid-air collision involving two helicopters.The deceased was identified as Vasanth Kumar Balaramudu, who died at the scene. Shailesh Krishna Patel (49), a New Zealand citizen, and Fishtail Air pilot Rabindra Prajapati sustained injuries. Balaramudu and Patel were being evacuated aboard a private Fishtail Air Airbus AS350 helicopter, registration 9N-AJR, which had taken off from Gorakshep, a remote settlement near Everest Base Camp at an altitude of approximately 5,164 metres.The other helicopter, an Air Dynasty AS350 registered 9N-AOD, had flown from Lukla carrying cargo. Its pilot, the sole occupant, escaped unhurt. Verified footage showed the helicopters approaching the helipad from different directions, with one descending faster than the other.The weather appeared clear, with no visible signs of strong winds. People nearby rushed towards the wreckage immediately after the collision. “Preliminary reports suggest miscommunication between the pilots, as the area is outside the coverage of Lukla Airport’s air traffic control tower and pilots have to communicate with each other,” said Mukesh Dangol, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.“We are recording the statement of the injured pilot,” he added. CAAN spokesperson Gyanendra Bhul said, “It appears the accident happened when two helicopters attempted to land at the same spot.” The aviation authority has launched an investigation to establish how both aircraft came to approach the helipad simultaneously. Solukhumbu district official Kaman Singh Thapa Magar also confirmed that the weather was clear at the time but raised the possibility of a technical problem. Prajapati and Patel were flown by a Prabhu Air helicopter to Nepal Mediciti Hospital in Kathmandu Valley.Air Dynasty confirmed that its pilot was uninjured, contradicting initial reports that both pilots had sustained injuries. Balaramudu’s body was first taken to Lukla and later transported to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu for a post-mortem before repatriation to India.India’s foreign ministry said the Indian embassy in Kathmandu was coordinating with Nepalese authorities to bring back Balaramudu’s remains. Pheriche, at around 4,300 metres, is a key stop along the Everest trekking route. Heavy snowfall had disrupted trails and left tourists stranded at high-altitude settlements, including Gorakshep, prompting helicopter evacuations. Expeditions are under way on Everest and nearby Ama Dablam.With no road access to the upper Everest region, choppers are widely used to ferry climbers and supplies, besides carrying out rescues.(With agency inputs)Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.