Amid Nepal’s devastating flash floods, 41-year-old Priya Adhikari has emerged as a key figure in the country’s rescue operations, flying repeated helicopter missions to reach people stranded by the disaster.
The floods that struck Nepal on August 26 severely affected Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, destroying roads and bridges and cutting off several communities. With ground access severely restricted, helicopters became the primary means of reaching isolated victims.
Adhikari, widely recognised as Nepal’s first female helicopter captain, reportedly carried out more than 100 rescue missions over nearly six consecutive days. Her operations helped bring hundreds of stranded and vulnerable people to safety during one of Nepal’s most challenging recent disasters.
Speaking to CNN, Adhikari described the rescue effort as among the toughest missions of her career. She said the operation was even more difficult than the rescue work following Nepal’s devastating 2015 earthquake because much of the destruction was concentrated in a narrow valley. The prolonged missions also left rescue crews physically exhausted.
An experienced high-altitude helicopter pilot, Adhikari has spent years undertaking challenging operations in Nepal’s mountainous terrain. Her work has included rescuing climbers in the Himalayas and delivering emergency supplies to remote areas. Some missions have required her to fly at altitudes approaching 6,200 metres.
Her journey into aviation was unconventional. She studied environmental science and initially worked as a cabin crew member. Her first helicopter ride inspired her to become a pilot, prompting her to travel to the Philippines for flight training.
After completing the required flying hours, Adhikari began her professional helicopter-piloting career in 2017. She later developed specialised skills for high-altitude rescue missions and also contributed to relief operations following the 2015 earthquake.
