The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has banned helicopters from making "non-essential" flights, including those for sightseeing. The grounding of aircraft was decided in the last few hours and is immediately valid throughout the national territory. This is a decision that comes two months after a fatal accident in the Everest region, and in the middle of the monsoon season (June-September).

"Non-essential flights such as mountain connections (Nepal has eight of the 14 highest peaks in the world, Ed), external cargo operations (with sling) and celebrations with flower drop from helicopters will be limited until September", the civil aviation authority said in a post on Twitter.

The decision comes two months after the fatal accident in the Everest region, in which a small helicopter of the private company Manang Air crashed while returning from a trip to the mountain peaks of the Himalayas. Six people died in the tragedy: five Mexican tourists and the Nepalese pilot.