Nepal helicopter crash: rescuers begin retrieving bodies

Kathmandu: Nepal on Tuesday ordered an investigation into a helicopter crash that killed 24 people including a Cabinet minister and several top international conservationists in the Himalayan nation's worst helicopter accident.
Rescuers began collecting bodies of the victims from the crash site in forested mountains of eastern Nepal where the helicopter, chartered by environmentalist group WWF, went down Saturday after the group visited a conservation project.
Among those killed in the accident were Nepal's Forest Minister Gopal Rai, Finnish Embassy Charge d'Affaires Pauli Mustonen, and USAID Deputy Director in Nepal Margaret Alexander.
WWF said seven of its employees were among the victims, including four Nepalis, an Australian, a Canadian and an American. The victims also included Nepali journalists, government officials and four crew members _ two Russians and two Nepalis.
The helicopter crashed in barely accessible terrain about 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of Katmandu.
26/09/06 AP/The Hindu

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