India joins search for WWF helicopter

India has joined a large-search operation for a helicopter that has gone missing in eastern Nepal, close to the Indian border.
The missing aircraft was chartered by the conservation organisation World Wildlife Fund and had 24 people on board, including Australian woman Jill Bowling.
A major search and rescue mission is now under way in the formidable terrain near the world's third highest mountain Kanganjunga.
On the Nepali side five new airborne search teams, including two from the army, have been out since first light.
The helicopter left Ghunsa in the mountainous and densely wooded district of Taplejung but failed to arrive at its destination, the village of Suketar just a 20-minute flight away.
Local people and officials in this remote area have joined the operations and two teams set out on foot on Saturday.
Earlier local people reported hearing a loud bang about five minutes after the helicopter took off, said Himesh Lal Karna, an air traffic official at Kathmandu airport.
24/09/06 ABC Regional Online, Australia

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