KATHMANDU: The final rites of late Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari - who lost his life in Taplejung chopper crash on Wednesday - have been performed with state honours at Ramghat in Kaski today.

Crestfallen Kaski denizens and politicians marched in a funeral procession through Pokhara and reached Ramghat to pay their last tributes to Adhikari.

Nepal Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force personnel marked the late leader's demise with a 61-gun-salute before the latter was cremated at the banks of Seti river.

Elder son of the late minister, Biraj Adhikari, lit the funeral pyre of their father as per Hindu traditions, accompanied by the minister's spouse and his younger son.

Mortal remains of late Adhikari had been kept at Pokhara Exhibition Centre for final tributes since today morning which was followed  by the funeral procession.

Late Minister Adhikari’s father Indra Prasad Adhikari, mother Laxmi Adhikari and wife Bidhya Adhikari had offered their heartfelt tributes, along with political leaders, general public, and well-wishers.

Six other persons lost their lives in the fatal crash including pilot of the helicopter Captain Prabhakar KC, tourism entrepreneur Aang Tshiring Sherpa, Under-Secretary at the Prime Minister’s office Yubaraj Dahal, Deputy Director General of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Birendra Shrestha, CAAN Director Dhruba Das Bhochhibhaya, and security personnel Arjun Ghimire.

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• Mortal remains of late Minister Adhikari in Pokhara