Islamabad, 16 January 2023 (TDI): Pakistan expressed its deepest condolences to the Nepali government following the loss of lives in a plane crash in Central Nepal, on Sunday.
“The government and people of Pakistan express their heartfelt condolences for the tragic loss of life in the air crash in Pokhara, Nepal.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan said in a statement.
“We are saddened by this tragic accident, and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ families. Pakistan stands with the people of Nepal in their hour of grief.”
Also read: Shehbaz Sharif extends felicitations to newly elected Prime Minister of Nepal
President Arif Alvi also expressed his heartfelt sympathies. He expressed his condolences to the families of those who died in the tragic incident and prayed to Allah Almighty to grant them the strength and courage to bear this loss with patience and fortitude.
Nepal plane crash leaves dozens dead
Yeti Airlines said on Sunday that an aircraft carrying 72 people crashed in the central Nepalese city of Pokhara. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, at least 68 people were killed in the crash. The exact death toll is still unknown.
According to the reports, there were two infants and 15 foreign nationals on board. These included five Indians, four Russians, two South Koreans, and one each from Ireland, Australia, Argentina, and France.
According to FlightRadar24, the plane was a 15-year-old twin-engine ATR72 flying from Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, to the newly opened airport in Pokhara, a popular tourist destination.
The plane crashed in a gorge near the Seti River, about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from Pokhara International Airport. The aircraft last made contact near the crash site at 10:50 a.m. local time.
Hundreds of rescue workers looked for survivors near the wreckage. Parts of the plane were dangling over the gorge, and rescuers were pulling bodies out with ropes.
Nepal’s Air Travel Difficulties
For several reasons, Nepal is particularly dangerous for air travel. The mountainous country, home to eight of the world’s fourteen highest mountains, has some of the most challenging runways, with routes leading to remote locations that would challenge even the most experienced pilots.
The country also lacks advanced weather forecasting infrastructure, which is complicated by the weather’s tendency to change quickly, particularly in the mountains.
Also read: Pakistan vs Nepal: Revival of Pakistan Football after 3 years
Despite a recent surge in air travel, the Himalayan country’s air industry is plagued by lagging safety standards and maintenance issues.
It is pertinent to note that over safety concerns, the European Union (EU) has barred Nepalese airlines from using its airspace.
