Nepal helicopter search hampered by weather

Bad weather in eastern Nepal is continuing to hamper efforts to find a missing helicopter with 24 people on board.

The helicopter disappeared in a remote mountainous area during heavy rain.

Five Nepalese air search teams are struggling to carry out their mission because of incessant rain.

Police say visibility is almost zero.

Among those on board are a government minister, a foreign diplomat and members of the conservation group, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), including Australian Jill Bowling.

The director of the WWF in Nepal, Anil Manandhar, says there is still hope the passengers will be found alive.

"We still don't believe that the worst has happened," he said.

- RADIO AUSTRALIA