(Photo Source : Annapurna Post)
The search and rescue operation for the missing Shree Airlines helicopter with 24 people on board including Minister of State for Soil Conservation, Gopal Rai, senior officials of the ministry, the WWF Nepal and Kathmandu-based foreign missions was affected due to bad weather on Sunday as well.
The 9N-AHJ (MI-172) chopper flying for Suketar from Ghunsa, Taplejung district, went missing Saturday morning after nearly five minutes of its take off. Gunnsa area, which does not have road links, is a three-day walk from the district headquarters, Phungling Bazaar.
Rescue helicopters were sent to Ghunsa in the morning and afternoon but could not remain in the area for long due to bad weather. Reports quoting officials at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said there was zero-visibility in the possible incident site. Weather remained generally cloudy in most of eastern region throughout the day today.
One helicopter each of Simrik Airlines and Air Dynasty and two helicopters of Nepali Army, were mobilised for the search operation. Some army personnel were airdropped in the possible incident site in the afternoon but there was no information from them until 8:00 p.m.
Army and police personnel have also been mobilised on the ground but they are yet to report back to the authorities in the district headquarters. Ghunsa locals are also involved in the search and rescue works, according to reports.
Some news reports even quoted locals as saying that they had heard the sound of crash of the helicopter.
Civil aviation minister Pradeep Gyawali told a press briefing this afternoon that there was no progress in locating the missing helicopter due to extreme weather conditions and that search and rescue operation would continue tomorrow as well.
The CAAN today announced that anybody, group or institution giving credible information about the discovery of the missing chopper would be rewarded with Rs 200,001 cash. Information regarding the missing chopper can be given through telephone Nos. 01-4472259, 01-4477163 (Kathmandu) and 021-524641 (Biratnagar Airport).
According to WWF Nepal office, altogether 24 people including the crewmembers were returning after taking part in a ceremony organised to mark handing over of Kanchanjunga Conservation Area to the local community in Taplejung on Friday.
They were returning to the district headquarters of Taplejung from remote Ghunsa.
Those on board the missing helicopter include Minister of State for Forest, Rai, and his wife, Secretary of the Ministry, Damodar Prasad Parajuli, director general at the Department of Forest and Wildlife Conservation Dr. Tirtha Man Maskey, WWF country representative Dr Chandra Gurung, Charge d’ Affairs of the Embassy of Finland, Pauli Mustonen, noted geographer and planner Dr Harka Gurung, Director General of Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Narayan Poudel, Director General of Department of Forests , Sharad Rai, two Nepal Television journalists, Hem Raj Bhandari and Sunil Kumar Singh, FNNCI central member Bijay Shrestha, Mingma Sherpa of WWF US, Conservation Director-WWF UK, Dr Jill Bowling, Dawa Tsering Sherpa, Deputy Director of the USAID Ms. Margaret Alexander,. FNCCI Central Committee Member Vijaya Shrestha, Development. Specialist USAID, Dr. Bijnan Acharya, Mrs. Yeshi Lama-WWF Nepal, Coordinator WWF UK Ms. Jennifer Headley, and four crew members Captain Klim Kim, Saffron Vallery (both Russian), Captain Mingma Tsering and Tandu Shrestha (crew).
Click here for a large view.
Click here for a large view.
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said the government was doing everything possible to track down the missing helicopter.
Koirala, who went to the residence of state minister Rai to console the family members, said that given the sensitive nature of the incident, the government would leave no stone unturned in searching the missing helicopter.
“The government will extend all possible assistance to the Rai family,” the Prime Minister added.