Indian tourist Vasanth Kumar Balaramudu killed in Everest helicopter collision

An Indian tourist was killed when two helicopters collided while trying to land near Mount Everest’s base camp on Thursday morning, officials said. The crash occurred at about 08:15 local time (02:30 GMT) in the village of Pheriche, roughly 12 km (7 miles) south of the base camp. The victim was identified by the operator Fishtail Air as Vasanth Kumar Balaramudu.

Helicopters are the main way people move around the rugged Himalayas, especially during the busy autumn climbing season. The region’s weather can change quickly, and thin air makes flying more hazardous. Pheriche sits at over 4,000 m (13,120 ft) above sea level, a common stop for trekkers heading to Everest or Ama Dablam. The two aircraft were attempting to land on the same spot when their rotors clipped, according to footage released by the authorities.

Fishtail Air confirmed that one of its helicopters was involved in the collision. The other aircraft, operated by Air Dynasty, was carrying cargo and had a single crew member who escaped injury. In addition to the Indian tourist, a New Zealand tourist and a Solukhumbu district official were aboard the Fishtail Air helicopter; both were injured but survived. The injured passengers and crew were airlifted to Kathmandu for medical treatment. A spokesperson for Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority, Gyanendra Bhul, said the accident appears to have happened when both helicopters tried to land at the same spot, noting that weather looked clear in the video.

The crash raises fresh concerns about safety standards for high‑altitude flights in Nepal. Authorities have promised a full investigation and may review landing protocols at popular trekking hubs. Pilots and tour operators say tighter coordination could prevent similar incidents. Meanwhile, families of the victims are awaiting further information as the investigation proceeds.