Preliminary reports from eastern Nepal say a chopper carrying some two dozen people, including Minister of State for Forest, Gopal Rai, has been missing shortly after it took off from eastern hilly district of Taplejung on Saturday morning.

The helicopter was on its way from Ghumsa, a remote village in Taplejung to the district headquarter. Minister Rai, his wife, top officials of the Forest Ministry and officials from the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) were on board the chopper belonging to the private sector Shree Airlines, according to reports.

Three helicopters are launching a rescue operation in the area, according to reports.

Details are still awaited.