The government formed a high-level commission on Monday to investigate into the Sri Airlines chopper crash that killed 24 people including Minister of State for Forest and Soil Conservation, Gopal Rai and senior officials of the ministry, WWF Nepal and foreign missions based in Kathmandu.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Pradeep Gyawali, said at a press conference held at the Tribhuvan International Airport this evening that the seven-member commission headed by Patan Appellate Court judge Keshari Raj Pandit has been given 15-day timeframe to submit its report.

Minister Gyawali said that a search and rescue team was working to collect the dead bodies at the crash site, Ghunsa area of Taplegunj district, until evening. A make-shift helipad is already ready in the area to facilitate the search of the dead bodies. Some 20 rescue workers have been stationed in Ghunsa and local people have also been helping them in collecting the bodies.

The dead bodies could be airlifted to the capital if the weather conditions improve, the minister said, informing that officials were trying to contact the families and relatives of the deceased persons for handover of the bodies.

According to reports, rescuers said they could identify only one body while others are badly damaged. The crashed chopper was spotted Monday afternoon.