This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/5373624.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Hunt for missing WWF helicopter Nepal hunt for helicopter goes on
(1 day later)
A search is under way for a helicopter carrying 24 people, including WWF conservationists, which has gone missing in eastern Nepal. A search is continuing for a helicopter carrying 24 people, including WWF conservationists, which has gone missing in eastern Nepal.
The helicopter lost radio contact during bad weather after it took off in a mountainous district. The helicopter lost radio contact during bad weather after it took off in a mountainous district on Saturday.
Five rescue helicopters took off early on Sunday to resume an air search for the craft. Bad weather has hampered an air and ground search for the crafts by rescue helicopters and workers.
It was not immediately clear if the helicopter had crashed or was able to make an emergency landing. It is still not clear if the helicopter crashed or was able to make an emergency landing.
Officials said rain and low visibility were hampering efforts to find the helicopter, missing since noon local time (0615 GMT) on Saturday.Officials said rain and low visibility were hampering efforts to find the helicopter, missing since noon local time (0615 GMT) on Saturday.
"It is continuously raining and very thick fog is covering the area with no sign of any let-up," a senior official, Hem Nath Dawadi, told the Reuters news agency.
Multiple nationalitiesMultiple nationalities
"These helicopters have been forced to comb the area from higher altitude because of rain and fog cover in the area," Nepal's Civil Aviation Minister Pradeep Gyawali said.
He said poor weather meant that the rescue teams had been unable to fly closer to the ground or land in the area.
Seven WWF employees are among the missing, including four Nepalis, an Australian, a Canadian and an American, the organisation said.Seven WWF employees are among the missing, including four Nepalis, an Australian, a Canadian and an American, the organisation said.
Also listed among the missing are a Finnish diplomat, a US aid-worker and two Russian crew members as well as Nepalese officials and reporters.Also listed among the missing are a Finnish diplomat, a US aid-worker and two Russian crew members as well as Nepalese officials and reporters.
A team of 90 soldiers and policemen have also been sent to the area on foot to help another ground team already there. A team of 90 soldiers and policemen has also been sent to the area on foot to help another ground team already there.
The helicopter party was returning from a landmark ceremony to hand over the Kangenjunga conservation area from the government to the local community.The helicopter party was returning from a landmark ceremony to hand over the Kangenjunga conservation area from the government to the local community.
The helicopter, identified as a Russian-made Mi-17, had been on a 20-minute flight to a local airport, where the passengers had been due to take a flight to the capital, Kathmandu.The helicopter, identified as a Russian-made Mi-17, had been on a 20-minute flight to a local airport, where the passengers had been due to take a flight to the capital, Kathmandu.