Bodies of four of the seven persons killed in the helicopter crash in Taplejung have been brought to Suketar Wednesday evening.
Chief District Officer (CDO) of Taplejung Anuj Bhandari said three bodies could not be dug out due to the heavy snowfall. "There has been heavy snowfall. We could not take out all the bodies. We will try again tomorrow," CDO Bhandari said.
He said recovery of bodies is difficult also as the chopper crash on the slope of a hill. He said the bodies brought to Suketar will be kept at the District Hospital, Taplejung, and all seven bodies will be flown together to Kathmandu on Thursday.
Seven persons including Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari were killed when an Air Dynasty chopper crashed at Darebhir near Sisnekhola of Taplejung on Wednesday afternoon.
Owner of Yeti Airlines Ang Tshering Sherpa, Deputy Director-General of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Birendra Kumar Shrestha and Birendra Bahadur Budhathoki from CAAN, Under Secretary of Prime Minister's Office Yubaraj Dahal, security guard of Minister Adhikari Arjun Ghimire were also travelling on the chopper flown by pilot Prabhakar KC.
The chopper crashed while returning from the Pathivara Temple. The team including Minister Adhikari had reached Aathrai, Tehrathum Wednesday morning to observe the airport there, and had gone to the temple for pilgrimage from Tehrathum.
