Another tragedy struck the royal family when Princess Prekshya died in a helicopter accident in far west Nepal Monday. A search and rescue team have recovered the body of Princess Prekshya, an official source said. The body will be flown to the capital later this evening, according to the same source.

She was killed when the French manufactured chopper plunged into the Rara lake, initial reports said. The helicopter carrying Queen Komal’s younger sister took off from Nepalgunj at 8.16 AM for Mugu and lost contact with the airport tower at 10.15 AM, Radio Nepal said.

Minister for Civil Aviation Bal Bahadur K.C. is coordinating a search and rescue mission in the area.

Two unmarried daughters of the Princess, Sheetasma and Dilasha, who accompanied their mother to far west Nepal returned to the capital Sunday.

More than five months ago on June 1, 14 members of the royal family were killed or injured in a royal palace shoot-out started by Crown Prince Dipendra.

King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya died in the shooting spree. Princess Prekshya was not present at the evening party shoot-out.

Airport officials did not respond to repeated telephone queries for details of the accident and said inquiries should be made with the Rashtriya Samachar Samiti.