Current affairs

Nepal plane crash: Hope dims in finding survivors as all 72 people on board are feared dead!

By alagu, 16 January, 2023
Nepal, Plane crash, Narendra Modi

Of all 72 people who were on board the Yeti Airlines of Nepal that crashed on Sunday, the searchers have lost the hope that they would find a survivor as they have recovered 68 bodies from the crash site. As hope dims, it is feared that all the people who were on board had died in what has become a worst air disaster in Nepal in decades. 

On Sunday,  Nepal's Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed that 68 people were died and five Indians were among the 72 people on board and as no survivors have been found, it is feared that all these Indians have also been killed. The five Indians have been identified as Abhisekh Kushwaha, Bishal Sharma, Anil Kumar Rajbhar, Sonu Jaiswal, and Sanjaya Jaiswal. The plane was bound to Pokhara, which is a key tourist destination in Nepal. 

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Yeti Airlines 9N-ANC ATR-72 aircraft took off from Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport at 10.33 am on Sunday and crashed at the Pokhara Airport at around 11 am. The Indian Embassy in Nepal said, "An ATR-72 plane of Yeti Airlines crashed today near the Pokhara Airport while flying from Kathmandu. According to the info provided by Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, 5 Indians were travelling on this flight. Rescue operations are underway." The Indian mission has been in touch with the local authorities and is closely monitoring the situation.  

It has been reported that while attempting to land at the Pokhara Airport, the plane crashed on the bank of the Seti River between the old and the new airport. The plane was carrying 72 people including four crew members. While the reason for the crash is unknown, the Nepal government has formed a five-member commission of inquiry to probe the plane crash. 

Several eye-witnesses were frightened as they spoke about what had happened. Speaking to ANI, an eye-witness Deepak Sahi said, "We heard a loud sound and came rushing to the spot. There, we could spot a few injured people and dead bodies in the debris." Another eye-witness Mahmood Khan said, "We were in our houses when we heard a loud sound and saw a huge cloud or smoke. We rushed to the spot with our friends and made efforts to save the injured people."

India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar took to Twitter and wrote, "Deeply grieved on hearing about the air crash in Pokhara, Nepal. Our thoughts are with the affected families." According to BBC, local official Tek Bahadur said the chances of finding anyone alive were nil and the flight's data and voice recorders had been found. Bahadur is the Chief district officer of the Taksi district and said, "We have collected 68 bodies so far. We are searching for four more bodies." 

It has been reported that it is the country's deadliest plane crash in thirty years. The search was halted on Sunday evening and it resumed on Monday with some 300 searchers. Of the 68 passengers, 53 were Nepal nationals and the rest 15 were foreigners - five Indians, four Russians, two Koreans, and one each from Australia, Ireland, Argentine, and France. 

Several global leaders have been expressing their auguish over the deadly air crash in the Himalayan country that has dangerous airports with tabletop runways. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter, "Pained by the tragic air crash in Nepal in which precious lives have been lost, including Indian nationals. In this hour of grief, my thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families". 

 

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