The government has also formed a five-member team to investigate the plane crash, in which most of the passengers are presumed dead….reports Asian Lite News
The Nepal government has announced a national mourning on Monday over a plane crash in Nepal’s Kaski district that claimed 35 lives.
The Cabinet has announced a public holiday on Monday to mourn the national tragedy, Deputy Prime Minister Bishnu Poudel said.
The government has also formed a five-member team to investigate the plane crash, in which most of the passengers are presumed dead.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal also left for Pokhara on Sunday evening to asses the search and rescue operation.
The aircraft contacted the control tower at 10.50 a.m. before it went off the radar.
A total of 68 passengers and four crew members were on board the aircraft that crashed between the old airport and the Pokhara International Airport, Sudarshan Bartaula, spokesperson of Yeti Airlines, said.
Among the passengers are three infants, three children and 62 adults. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, the passengers included 53 Nepalis, five Indians, four Russians, one Irish, one Australian, one Argentinian, two Koreans and one French. Two helicopters were deployed from Pokhara airport while additional choppers are on standby in Kathmandu, CAAN said in a press release.
Following the crash, the Pokhara International Airport has been closed for today for all inbound and outbound flights, Teknath Sitaula, Spokesperson for Pokhara airport told Rastriya Samachar Samiti.