Private helicopter deployed to search for 17 Malaysians missing in Nepal

KUALA LUMPUR: A private helicopter is set to embark on a search mission today for 17 Malaysians who are yet to be located following flash floods in Nepal's Rasuwa district, according to Roshan Panday, a representative of Fishtail Tours & Travels. Panday announced that he had procured the helicopter to scour the area where the group was last seen.

"Today I am sending a helicopter privately," he informed the New Straits Times. The helicopter is anticipated to take off within the next two hours, with the search expected to last between 45 and 60 minutes. Panday confirmed that the helicopter would be directed towards the last known coordinates of the missing group, which comprised 17 Malaysians who were traveling together in the affected region.

However, he noted that poor weather and a high number of SOS calls were impeding helicopter operations in the area. Panday expressed that the weather conditions and the excessive SOS calls were adversely affecting the helicopter's scheduling. The recent search operation is part of ongoing efforts to locate the 17 Malaysians, who are currently untraceable after the flash floods struck Rasuwa.

Panday emphasized that the helicopter's search would concentrate on identifying any remnants of the group, amidst the challenging weather conditions that have been hampering helicopter operations in the area.