Helicopter with 5 people on board crashes in Nepal
Kathmandu (PTI): Four Chinese tourists were among five people killed in Nepal on Wednesday when a helicopter crashed in the mountains northwest region of Kathmandu.
Police have recovered five dead bodies from the crash site in Ward No 7 of Shivapuri Rural Municipality, Nuwakot, Myrepublica newspaper reported.
Nepal-based Air Dynasty helicopter, 9N-AJD, was en route to Rasuwa from Kathmandu when it crashed.
The helicopter departed from Kathmandu at 1:54 PM and was en route to Syaphrubensi when it crashed.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), a Prabhu helicopter (9N-ANL) was dispatched to the crash site immediately after the incident.
There were five individuals on board, including four Chinese tourists, the paper said. The helicopter lost contact with the tower just three minutes after takeoff from Tribhuvan International Airport, according to the CAAN.
Citing a police official, the paper said that the bodies of two men, one woman and the pilot, identified as Arun Malla, were recovered from the crash site.
One body has not been identified yet as it is charred beyond recognition, Myrepublica reported.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Shantiraj Koirala, at the District Police Office, Nuwakot, who reached the crash site, confirmed that five bodies had been recovered.
This crash comes just weeks after the Saurya Airlines plane crash at the Tribhuvan International Airport on July 24. The crash claimed the lives of 18 people on board, with the captain being the sole survivor.
This latest incident raises serious concerns about air safety over the skies of the Himalayan nation, which has witnessed numerous air crashes in recent years.
#SadNews: काठमाडौंबाट रसुवा उडेको एयर डाइनेस्टी हेलिकप्टर नुवाकोटको शिवपुरी गा.पा. ७ सूर्यचौरमा दुर्घटना भएको छ । घटनास्थलमा पुगेर नेपाल प्रहरीले उद्धार कार्य जारी रहेको छ ।#NepalPolice #नेपालप्रहरी #BelieveInBlue #ToServeandProtect #rescue #helicopter pic.twitter.com/KKLm6M3nnK
— Nepal Police (@NepalPoliceHQ) August 7, 2024
रुखमा ठोक्किएर आगो लाग्दै झरेको थियो हेलिकोप्टर
— Nepal Clicks (@nepalclicksnews) August 7, 2024
भिडियो : समृद्ध नुवाकोट pic.twitter.com/AAjqYwqyvO
Nepal: Five people, including Nepal Captain Arun Malla and four Chinese nationals, died in a helicopter crash at Suryachaur, Nuwakot. The helicopter was en route from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi. The cause of the crash is still unknown pic.twitter.com/9pY4xWJmru
— IANS (@ians_india) August 7, 2024
An Air Dynasty helicopter crashed on Wednesday in Nepal's Nuwakot leaving five dead including four Chinese passengers.#Nepal pic.twitter.com/Tyr5UZCVwB
— Raajeev Chopra (@Raajeev_Chopra) August 7, 2024
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bhojshala case: Disputed structure built from remains of pre-existing temples, claims ASI
Indore (PTI): The ASI has told the Madhya Pradesh High Court that a massive structure dating back to the Paramara kings' rule existed at the disputed Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula mosque complex, and the current structure was built from the remains of temples.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) made the claim on Tuesday based on its 98-day scientific survey and over 2,000-page report.
The Hindu community considers Bhojshala a temple dedicated to Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), while the Muslim side claims the monument as the Kamal Maula Mosque. The disputed complex is protected by the ASI.
During the hearing before Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi of the HC's Indore bench, Additional Solicitor General Sunil Kumar Jain, representing the ASI, presented a detailed account of the scientific survey conducted two years ago at the complex.
Referring to the ASI's survey report, he said, "Retrieved architectural remains, sculptural fragments, large slabs of inscriptions with literary texts, Nagakarnika inscriptions on pillars, etc, suggest that a large structure associated with literary and educational activities existed at the site. Based on scientific investigations and archaeological remains recovered during the investigations, this pre-existing structure can be dated to the Paramara period."
It can be said that the existing structure was made from the parts of earlier temples, based on scientific investigations, survey and archaeological excavations conducted, study and analysis of retrieved finds, study of architectural remains, sculptures, and inscriptions, art and sculptures, Jain said quoting the report.
Summarising the report, he also drew the court's attention to the fact that the archaeological study identifies that many architectural components, such as pillars and beams, were originally part of temple structures before being repurposed for a mosque.
"The evidence of this transition includes Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions that were damaged or hidden, alongside sculptures of deities and animals that were often mutilated or defaced," Jain contended.
The report also states that "all Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions are older than the Arabic and Persian inscriptions, indicating that users or engravers of the Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions occupied the place earlier".
In light of the Muslim side's earlier objections, the bench wanted to know why there were some discrepancies in the ASI's responses regarding the status of the disputed complex in the cases filed over the years.
The Additional Solicitor General argued that earlier studies of the complex involved only officials, while the current survey involved scientists and the use of advanced technologies such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR).
The hearing in the Bhojshala case will continue on Wednesday.
The high court has been regularly hearing four petitions and one writ appeal regarding the religious nature of the Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula mosque complex since April 6.
