Nepal plane crash: 67 killed in mishap, including five Indians
Kathmandu: At least 67 of the 72 people onboard the Yeti Airline ATR-72 aircraft from Kathmandu to Pokhara died as the plane crashed in Pokhara on Sunday morning.
The plane carried 68 passengers as well as four crew members. There were 15 foreign nationals, including six children, were on board. 53 Nepali, 5 Indian, 4 Russian, 2 Koreans, 1 Argentinian, and one each from Ireland, Australia, and France were in the plane, the airlines said in a statement.
Police officer A K Chhetri has said that 31 bodies were taken to hospitals, while 36 passengers’ bodies were found in the gorge where the plane crashed, reports NDTV.
Nepali journalist Dilip Thapa has said that rescue operators are struggling due to the fire at the accident site.
Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda called an emergency Cabinet meeting and the Nepal government has formed a five-member commission to probe the crash.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the flight took off from Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport at 10:33 am on Sunday. The plane was about to land at the Pokhara airport, when it crashed into a gorge on the bank of River Seti and also caught fire.
The plane crashed about 20 minutes after take-off. The flight time between the two cities is 25 minutes, suggesting that the plane might have crashed during descent.
The airline spokesperson Sudarshan Bartaula has said that there is no information regarding survivors yet.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia condoled the loss of lives in the plane crash.
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Elephant calf brought from Bijnor kept under care at Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
Pilibhit (PTI): A 19-day-old elephant calf, brought from Bijnor, was placed under care at the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) on Sunday, an official said and added that the calf got separated from its mother in the forest area of Bijnor.
The calf was born on December 2 in the Bijnor forest area and got separated from its mother shortly after birth, the official said.
The forest department made several attempts to reunite it with its mother, but without any success. To ensure the calf's safety and better care, it was decided to transfer it to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve on the instructions of senior officials.
On Saturday, Deputy Director Manish Singh received the calf. Special arrangements have been made in the reserve for its care. It has been kept in a safe and clean environment to provide it with a natural setting and protect it from external noise and disturbances.
Singh told reporters that raising an 19-day-old calf is challenging.
It requires a special diet as a substitute for mother's milk and constant monitoring.
He said a special team has been formed to provide 24-hour care. Since the calf is very young, it is being cared for like a newborn baby.
According to Singh, the primary responsibility for monitoring the calf's health has been entrusted to PTR's veterinarian, Dr Daksh Gangwar. Under his supervision, a complete record of the calf's health checkups, diet, and body temperature is being maintained. The team is ensuring that the calf does not contract any infection.
