68 passengers were killed on Sunday when the aircraft they were in crashed before landing in Pokhara International Airport in Nepal, civil aviation sources in Kathmandu have confirmed. The aircraft belonging to Yeti Airlines had seventy-two passengers including four crew members and at least fifteen foreigners on board. Officials said that four bodies are yet to be recovered.
According to information put out by the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority, Sanjay Jaiswal, Sonu Jaiswal, Anil Kumar Rajbhar, Abhishek Kushwaha and Vishal Sharma were the Indian nationals on board the ill fated flight. That apart, four Russian citizens, two Koreans, one each Australian, Argentinian, Irish and French nationals were also among the passengers.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic accident of Yeti Airlines ANC ATR 72, which was flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara with passengers. I sincerely appeal to the security personnel, all agencies of the Nepal government and the general public to start an effective rescue,” said Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Prime Minister of Nepal in a social media message.
Mr. Prachanda reached the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu soon after the aircraft crashed on the runway of Pokhara’s newly built international airport. Visuals taken by nearby residents showed the aircraft tilting towards the left as it approached the ground and crashed with a loud noise.
“Deeply grieved on hearing about the air crash in Pokhara, Nepal. Our thoughts are with the affected families,” External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar said in a message after the accident.
Indian embassy in Kathmandu has confirmed the presence of five Indians on board the crashed aircraft and put out helpline numbers for the public.
Helpline of Embassy: 1 Kathmandu: Shri Diwakar Sharma +977-9851107021 2. Pokhara Lt Col Shashank Tripathi: +977-9856037699. “ Embassy is in touch with local authorities and is monitoring the situation,” said the embassy in its message.
