‘We Rescued People Crushed Under the Helicopter by Lifting It’

7 Chaitra, Khotang – Manlakshmi, wife of Bhupu UK Gurkha Dakmani Rai, passed away in the UK on Falgun 7. Following a family agreement to conduct the funeral in their native village, Dakmani was returning to the village with his children and relatives.

News spread that brothers, neighbors, and close relatives were arriving by helicopter for the funeral. Dakmani’s village is Balabesi of Khotang’s Kepilasgadhi Rural Municipality–2, Khartamcha. On Chaitra 4, Dakmani was preparing to land by helicopter near his home along with his children.

The landing site was a field near Dakmani’s house, marked with a white English letter ‘H’ on the ground. By around 12 noon, the sound of the helicopter was heard. Relatives and neighbors gathered around the landing site.

The approaching helicopter, operated by Air Dynasties, stirred dust with its rotor blades, prompting some locals to step back, while others covered their faces and started recording videos and photos on their phones.

As the helicopter was settling onto the field, it abruptly tilted its tail upwards and took off again, crashing onto the higher ground instead of the intended lower field. It was initially landed beside the field’s edge but overturned when moved closer to the wall, according to eyewitness Prakash Rai.

The pilot was Savin Thapa from Bamrang, Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality–3 in Khotang. Passengers included Dakmani, his son Balkumar Rai, daughter Laxmi Rai, relative Samla Rai, and Pastor Kajibahadur Rai.

Despite the severity of the accident, all passengers except Pastor Kajibahadur escaped unharmed. Kajibahadur was rescued after being pinned under the helicopter wreckage.

Kepilasgadhi Ward Chairperson Milan Rai stated that since the helicopter did not catch fire, the pilot and all passengers survived. The pilot turned off the engine immediately after the incident, preventing a fire.

The plan was to transport Manlakshmi’s body to the village by helicopter; however, the coffin could not fit inside. Arrangements were made to bring the coffin via ambulance while the family traveled by helicopter.

The accident occurred at 11:51 am. Locals were stunned witnesses to the unexpected crash. The helicopter’s rotor blades struck a Patmero tree, breaking in the process. Subsequently, the helicopter overturned and came to rest upside down.

Relatives waiting for Dakmani’s family scattered in shock. Crying and shouting ensued at the scene. Pilot Thapa, Dakmani, his son Balkumar, daughter Laxmi, and relative Samla Rai unfastened their seatbelts and exited the helicopter with ease.

Fifteen to twenty people lifted the damaged helicopter to pull out Pastor Kajibahadur, who was trapped and screaming. “We were fainted at that moment. The helicopter risked exploding, but we lifted it to save the person,” Rai said. “Smoke was coming from the silencer section; the pilot had shut down the engine, so no fire broke out.” The helicopter is currently covered with a tarpaulin.

Eyewitnesses stated that the helicopter initially landed on the lower field but the accident occurred while attempting to move it to the marked ‘H’ landing spot.

Pastor Rai and pilot Thapa, injured in the crash, were immediately flown to Kathmandu by another helicopter. Dakmani’s family has since conducted the funeral of the deceased Manlakshmi.