KATMANDU, Nepal, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- The sister-in-law of the Nepalese king died Monday in a helicopter crash, less than six months after most of the royal family of the Himalayan kingdom was massacred in a palace shooting.
Authorities said a private helicopter carrying Princess Preksha and five others plunged into Rara Lake. The accident was under investigation.
The body of Princess Preksha has been recovered and sent to Katmandu where it would be cremated.
Preksha was the widow of Dhirendra, the youngest brother of late king Birendra who was among 10 royals killed in the June 1 palace massacre. Princess Preksha was one of the few surviving members.
The couple had separated after Dhirendra abdicated his royal title and moved to London to marry a British woman.
While two other passengers were pulled out from the lake and taken to a hospital in Nepalgunj, 225 miles southwest of Katmandu, three others, including the pilot, are feared dead.
The French-built Ecuriel helicopter, operated by the Fishtail Air Service, were flying from Nepalgunj when the helicopter lost contact with the airport tower and plunged into the lake.
