Plane carrying 72 people crashes in Nepal: At least 32 dead

At least 32 people died When is Sunday? A 72-seater passenger plane crashed in a ravine while attempting to land in the tourist town of Pokhara in the heart of the city NepalAccording to an official.

Rescuers are working at the crash site near the Sethi River, about two kilometers from the Bogra International Airport, and bodies are expected to be recovered, said Khaski District Administrative Officer Tek Bahadur KC. The cause of the accident was not known at first.

Twin engine aircraft ATR 72 Operated by a Nepali company Yeti Airlines There were 68 passengers including 15 Foreign nationals, and four crew members, according to a statement from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Foreigners include five Indians, four Russians, two South Koreans, one Irishman, one Australian, An Argentine And a French.

In the previous draw, an official said there were survivors. “We have recovered 29 bodies so far We have shifted some of the survivors to the hospital“, he said AFP Gurudatta Tagal, deputy chief of Khaski district in central Nepal, where the accident took place.

According to a local official identified as Gurudutta Tagal, Firefighters are trying to douse the fire at the scene. Accident to start rescue operation of passengers.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who rushed to the crash site, said the plane was flying from the capital Kathmandu to Pokhara and appealed to security personnel and the public to help rescue efforts.

Videos posted on social media of Sunday’s crash show smoke billowing from the crash site.

The Pokhara Airport Acts as a link for commuters to the city JomsomFully located The HimalayasIt is a popular destination among visiting foreign tourists Annapurna peak (8,091 meters) or part Mustangas well as among Hindu pilgrims.

NepalFrequent plane crashes, repeated material International sanctions due to lack of controls. In addition, it is one of the most remote and difficult airstrips in the world, surrounded by snow-capped peaks, with approaches that challenge even the most experienced pilots.

So say the air operators Nepal lacks the infrastructure to make accurate weather forecastsFatal accidents have occurred in the past, especially in remote areas with difficult hilly terrain.

The European union Nepali airlines have been banned from entering its territory since 2013.

In May 2022, 22 people traveled on a Nepalese company flight Tara Air They died in an accident. control Aviation He lost touch with him Double otter Two propellers shortly after takeoff Pokhara And visited Jomsom, a popular trekking destination.

His remains were found a day later, scattered on the side of a mountain About 4,400 meters high. the nail 60 people participated in the searchMost of them traveled miles uphill to get there.

After that accident, authorities tightened regulations, indicating that planes would only be authorized to fly if they had Favorable weather forecast en route.

Nepal has seen its worst plane crash in recent years March 2018During a Bangladesh Airlines flight US-Bungalow The flight from Dhaka crashed on landing Kathmandu International Airport Of the 67 passengers and four crew members on board, fifty died.

Two months ago, a flight Thai Airways Crashed near same airport, killed 113 people.

(With information from AFP, AP and EFE)

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