- Tuesday, March 04, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
Five Indians were on board the ill-fated Yeti Airlines plane that crashed in Nepal’s Pokhara on Sunday (15) morning, the Himalayan state’s Civil Aviation Authority confirmed in a tweet.
At least 68 people were killed in the disaster. The ATR 72 aircraft, which was carrying 72 people, including 15 foreigners, fell into a river gorge while landing in Pokhara, one of the south Asian country’s major tourist destinations. The flight was going from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, to Pokhara.
प्रेस विज्ञपति १ pic.twitter.com/aTy13uLmhh
— Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (@hello_CAANepal) January 15, 2023
Of the five Indians who lost their lives, four were from Ghazipur district of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh which borders Nepal.
They were identified as Abhishek Kushwaha, Vishal Sharma, Anil Kumar Rajbhar, and Sonu Jaiswal — all residents of Alawalpur Village of Ghazipur district.
The plane reportedly crashed on the bank of the Seti river located between the old and new airports around 20 minutes after taking off, suggesting that it might have been on the descent.
Apart from the Indians, the deceased foreigners included four Russians, two South Koreans, and one passenger each from Argentina, Australia, France, and Ireland, Yeti spokesman Sudarshan Bartaula told AFP.
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths. In a tweet in which he tagged his Nepalese counterpart Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda, who recently became the prime minister, Modi said, “Pained by the tragic air crash in Nepal in which precious lives have been lost, including Indian nationals. In this hour of grief, my thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families.
@cmprachanda @PM_nepal_”
Pained by the tragic air crash in Nepal in which precious lives have been lost, including Indian nationals. In this hour of grief, my thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. @cmprachanda @PM_nepal_
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 15, 2023
Prachanda also tweeted about the accident saying he was “deeply saddened”.
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday, “Incredibly sad news out of Nepal of a plane crashing with many passengers on board.”
काठमाडौंबाट यात्रु लिएर पोखराका लागि उडेको यती एयरलाइन्सको एएनसी एटीआर ७२ जहाजको दुखद र त्रासदीपूर्ण दुर्घटनाप्रति गहिरो दुख व्यक्त गर्दछु। प्रभावकारी उद्दारमा लाग्न सुरक्षाकर्मी, नेपाल सरकार सम्पूर्ण निकाय र आम जनसमुदायमा हार्दिक अपील गर्दछु।
— ☭ Comrade Prachanda (@cmprachanda) January 15, 2023
Indian aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia also condoled, tweeting, “The loss of lives in a tragic plane crash in Nepal is extremely unfortunate. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the bereaved. Om Shanti.”
The loss of lives in a tragic plane crash in Nepal is extremely unfortunate. My thoughts & prayers are with the families of the bereaved. Om Shanti.
— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) January 15, 2023
The Indian Embassy in Nepal said that it was in touch with local authorities and monitoring the situation.
An ATR-72 plane of Yeti Airlines crashed today near the Pokhara Airport while flying from Kathmandu. According to the info provided by Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, 5 Indians were travelling on this flight. Rescue operations are underway. pic.twitter.com/rkLC3QbStn
— IndiaInNepal (@IndiaInNepal) January 15, 2023
It also shared helpline numbers for Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Nepal, which is home to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains, including Mount Everest, has a record of air accidents.
The Himalayan nation observed a day of mourning on Monday (16).
(With AFP inputs)
