A Gurkha soldier from Lamjung district was killed when the vehicle he was travelling in struck an explosive device in Helmand district of Afghanistan, the Defence Ministry said.

Krishna Bahadur Dura (36), who was killed on Saturday, was the second Nepali to be killed in less than two weeks time in Afghanistan. Earlier, one Yubraj Rai was also killed in November in another district of Afghanistan.

'Gurkha soldier Sergeant Krishna Bahadur Dura, from the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, died when the Warrior vehicle he was travelling in struck an explosive device in the Musa Qala District of Helmand Province,' ITN quoted the Defence Ministry, as saying. Paying tribute to Dura, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Darby, Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, said, 'The Colour Sergeant Krishna was an exceptional soldier, a gifted leader and consummate professional.

'Intelligent, hard-working and totally committed, I knew that whatever the challenge, I could turn to C/Sgt Krishna and had absolute confidence in his ability to deliver it.