Dutch doctor among 5 killed in Nepal helicopter crash

At least four, and possibly five people were killed Tuesday afternoon when a helicopter crashed in the Sindhupalchok district of Nepal, the Army there said. One of the four who died was a Dutch medical professional, but her identity was not released.

Helicopter pilot Subek Shrestha was killed, as well as Dr. Sandip Mahat and Sher Bahadur Karki. All three are believed to be from Nepal.

They were en route to Kathmandu at the time of the crash near the village of Yamuna at 4:20 p.m. local time. The helicopter reportedly hit a transmission cable that stretched across a mountainous area, and is connected to a hydropower facility. Witnesses say they saw an explosion and cloud of smoke at the time of the incident. There was no nearby source of water to help extinguish the fire, Sindhupalchok official Krishna Prasad Gyawali said.

The helicopter was on the return leg of a medical relief mission to the residents of Tembathan, still reeling after the earthquakes and aftershocks in April and May.