Helicopter rescue in Khumbu region resumes

KATHMANDU, Jan 28:There are indications that the obstruction to helicopter flights in the Khumbu region will be addressed. According to an all-party meeting conducted on Friday, the rescue flight has begun after the local level removed barriers at the helipad.

An all-party meeting held on Friday at the District Administration Office Solukhumbu by the Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN), Sagarmatha National Park Office, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Solukhumbu Office, Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality, and other stakeholders agreed that the local level will remove the obstructions at the helipad, and the AOAN will resume rescue flights as soon as the obstructions are removed.

After this agreement, the local municipality assisted in removing obstructions at the helipad over the last two days, according to Solukhumbu Chief District Officer (CDO) Anoj Kumar Ghimire. He stated that the rescue flight had now begun.

According to CDO Ghimire, anyone in need of a helicopter for a rescue flight can request one right now. Ghimire stated that it was agreed that a win-win agreement for regular flights will be reached within 15 days.

Later, the National Park Office submitted a letter requesting that helicopter operations restart, but due to the rural municipality's objections and the inhabitants' blockage, the service has yet to resume.