Pokhara airport was inaugurated two weeks ago with the help of China, now 68 people lost their lives in the plane crash

A plane carrying 72 passengers crashed at Pokhara International Airport in Nepal on Sunday, killing 68 people. Let us inform that the Pokhara International Airport, built with the help of China, was inaugurated two weeks ago by the newly appointed Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'.

The project was part of the BRI collaboration

Let us inform that Pokhara International Airport was inaugurated on January 1, 2023. The project was part of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation. According to the Kathmandu Post newspaper, the Nepal government had signed a $215.96 million soft loan agreement with China in March 2016 for the construction of the airport. While inaugurating the Pokhara International Airport, Prachanda had said that Pokhara's connection with the international sector has been established. 

5 Indian citizens were on board the plane

The passenger plane crashed between the old airport and Pokhara International Airport. There were 53 Nepalese nationals, 5 Indians, 4 Russians, one Irish, 2 Koreans, one Argentine and one French national on board the aircraft. Out of which 68 people have died so far. Gyanendra Bhul, information officer of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the plane crashed due to technical reasons and not due to the weather. It is learned that flames were seen in the aircraft when it was in the air. 

Describing the Pokhara accident as unfortunate, Nepal's Ambassador to India Shankar P Sharma said that according to the press release shared by the airlines, there were 5 Indians on board the plane, but details are yet to come.

Plane crash on the way

The air traffic controller told that the plane would have reached the runway in 10 seconds but crashed midway. Ordering an inquiry, the Government of Nepal has formed a five-member committee regarding this incident.