Nepal: Helicopter goes missing with 23 on board

A helicopter with 23 people on board went missing today in Nepal’s mountainous east, officials said.

The Russian-built MI-17 helicopter took off from Taplejung, about 310 miles east of Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, this morning but has not been seen since, said Ambar Shakya of the rescue co-ordination unit at Kathmandu airport.

The helicopter was headed for Kathmandu, he said.

Civilian and army helicopters are searching for the helicopter but have not found any trace of it, Shakya said.

The area where the helicopter was flying is mountainous and has thick forests. Visibility was poor because of rain and fog.

The helicopter was chartered from Shree Helicopter Co, company officials said.