Nepal President Paudel expresses grief over loss of lives in helicopter crash

Kathmandu [Nepal], July 11 : Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel expressed grief over the deaths of Captain Sibi Gurung and five others in the Manang Air helicopter crash on Tuesday. He expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and paid tribute to the deceased.

"Honorable President Ramchandra Paudeljee has expressed grief over the death of Captain Sibi Gurung and five Mexicans in the Manang Air helicopter crash in Solukhumbu. He expressed his condolences to the bereaved families while paying tribute to those who lost their lives in the accident," the office of the President of Nepal tweeted.

As per the release from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, there were 6 people on board the chopper including the pilot. The release identified the passengers on board the chopper as Mexican (2 Male and 3 female) and a Nepali pilot.

A search and rescue team comprising Nepal Army and Nepal Police retrieved all the bodies of victims from a helicopter crash site in the Solukhumbu District of Nepal.

"We have recovered all the bodies at the crash site. Helicopters which went to retrieve the body aren't able to land near the site due to inclement weather," the Chief District Officer of Solukhumbu Basanta Bhattarai toldover the phone on Tuesday.

Nepal Army along with Police and two helicopters were deployed for the search and rescue mission earlier this morning.

"The helicopter has been found at the border of Likhu PK village council and Dudhkunda Municipality-2 commonly called Lamajura Danda. The village has retrieved the five bodies," Koshi Province Police DIG Rajeshnath Bastola toldover the phone.

As per the police, the helicopter seems to have hit a tree on the hilltop.