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
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New Delhi, May 09 (PTI): In a gesture of national solidarity, the Grand Mufti of India, Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, on Friday expressed strong support for the government’s stance and actions against terrorism and extremism, particularly in sensitive regions like Kashmir.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sheikh Abubakr lauded the government’s “principled stance” and the armed forces’ efforts in safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and security.
He described terrorism as a grave threat to both national stability and global peace, emphasizing that India’s proactive measures are not only necessary for its internal integrity but also crucial for international harmony.
“India’s strategic interventions and diplomatic leadership can play a transformative role in countering radical ideologies and promoting sustainable peace across South Asia,” the Grand Mufti noted in the letter, underscoring the broader regional significance of India’s counter-terrorism policies.
Calling for unity among all citizens, Sheikh Abubakr urged the people of all faiths and backgrounds to stand behind national efforts.
“We must all act as custodians of the values that bind us as a diverse yet harmonious nation,” he wrote.
Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad is the 10th Grand Mufti of India and the first Shafi scholar from South India, according to the official website of Grand Mufti of India.
He is the general secretary of the All India Muslim Scholars Association and the founder and vice-chancellor of Jamia Markaz Saqafathu Sunniyya.