23 killed in Tara Air crash; 19 dead bodies recovered; PM expresses sorrow over the incident

File Photo of Tara Airlines

Myagdi / February 24: Nineteen bodies of those killed in the Tara Air plane crash have been recovered from the Solighopte cliff of Dana VDC-2 in the district.

Although the bodies of two children are in an identifiable state, others are fully charred and unrecognizable. The plane caught fire after hitting the cliff. The dead bodies are scattered, said Bijay Sharma, police constable who has reached the crash site.

“It has been very difficult to collect the dead bodies after the snowstorm began here,” he said, adding that the Nepal Army’s helicopters gone for rescue could not land owing to the snowstorm at the crash spot.

Currently, a team of police persons and locals are collecting the bodies. There is a camp set up by the Nepal Army under the command of colonel Sanjiv Dahal at Harme of Dana VDC, which is just a one hour’s trek from the crash site.

Constable Sharma added, “There is no condition at all to go into the ravine and comb the area for other bodies.”

Earlier, police constables Phul Kumar Thapa from the Dana-based Area Police Post, and the locals had found the place of plane accident in the afternoon.

A plane belonging to Tara airlines, which took off for Jomsom from Pokhara at 7:50 am in the morning today had gone out of contact some minutes later and found that it got crashed. 23 people including aircraft died in the incident.

Although Nepal has been improving its air safety standard, such incidents taking place due to difficult geographical terrain and lack of proper equipment. According to Tara Air, the aircraft was a factory new DHC 6-400 with less than total flying time of 300 hours.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has extended deep sorrow over the loss of lives and property in the Tara Air plane crash this morning.

The Tara Air’s plane flying for Jomsom of Mustang from Pokhara at 7:50 am met with an accident at Soli Ghopte cliff of Dana VDC in Myagdi district. A press release issued today by PM Oli’s press advisor, Pramod Dahal, stated that Prime Minister Oli was very saddened to hear about the incident and the resulting fatalities.

Prime Minister Oli has also paid heartfelt tributes to all the 23 people who lost their lives in the plane crash, and wished the bereaved family the fortitude to bear this tragic loss.

The Prime Minister, currently in India on a state-visit, has also directed officiating PM Bijay Kumar Gachchadar and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Ananda Prasad Pokharel, to get themselves involved in the rescue and relief operation.

The name of the victims are as follows:
Crew members:
Pilot Roshan Manandhar
Co-piolot Dikesh Nemkul (Nepal)
Air Hostess Roma Raut (Nepal)

Passengers:
Mr Ralrashed Ahamad Aa (Kuwait)
Miss Mak Siu Ying (Chinese)
Mr Rebati Baral (Nepal)
Mr Muktinath Bastola (Nepal)
Mr Krishna Lal Bhattachan (Nepal)
Mr Devi Jung Gurung (Nepal)
Mr Fhenjock Gurung (Nepal)
Miss Laxmi Hirachan (Nepal)
Infant I (boy) (Nepal)
Mr Moti Bahadur KC (Nepal)
Mr Bal Krishna Niure (Nepal)
Mr Kanchha Pariyar (Nepal)
Mr Raj Kumar Tamang (Nepal)
Infant II (girl) (Nepal)
Miss Binita Bhattachan (Nepal)
Miss Dil Kumari Gauchan (Nepal)
Miss Pabitra KC (Nepal)
Mrs Lepsang Lama (Nepal)
Mrs Dolma Tshiring Sherpa (Nepal)
Miss Kamala Thakali (Nepal)