International Desk : Six people were killed in a tourist helicopter in Nepal when it crashed soon after take-off in the Everest region, aviation authorities said.

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The Manang Air flight was heading for the capital Kathmandu from near Lukla, the gateway for climbing expeditions to the world's highest peak, with five Mexican travellers and a Nepali pilot onboard.

The chopper lost contact about 10 minutes after taking off.

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Gyanendra Bhul of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal said "six bodies have been found at the crash site."

Two helicopters and teams on the ground had been deployed for search and rescue.

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Local search-and-rescue officials at the crash site could not be reached for comment.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had "expressed grief" over the incident, his office said on Twitter.

Nepal has a booming private helicopter industry, flying tourists and goods to remote corners of the Himalayan nation where road access is limited or non-existent.

Sun News/MR

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