International community expresses grief over tragic plane crash in Pokhara

Leaders, heads of state and diplomats of various countries offered condolences over the loss of lives in the Yeti Airlines plane crash that claimed the lives of at least 68 people on Sunday.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said he was “deeply saddened by the sad and tragic accident.”

“I sincerely appeal to the security personnel, all agencies of the Nepal government and the general public to start an effective rescue,” Dahal said on Twitter.

Similarly, in a tweet, Indian President Narendra Modi said that he was pained by the tragic air crash in which precious lives were lost.

“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,” reads a tweet from the Indian prime minister.

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr.S Jaishankar also expressed his grief over the tragic plane crash in Pokhara on Sunday.

“Deeply grieved on hearing about the air crash in Pokhara, Nepal. Our thoughts are with the affected families,” Jaishankar tweeted along with helpline numbers of the Indian Embassy in Nepal.

Likewise, Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of lives in the plane crash incident.

“In this difficult and sad time, our sympathies and prayers are with the Government of Nepal, the affected families and the people of Nepal,” said Sharif, in a statement.

Similarly, Pakistan’s President Dr Arif Alvi also condoled the loss of life in the air crash.

Issuing a statement following the incident, President Alvi expressed his deepest condolences over the sad loss of precious lives stating that his thoughts and prayers are with the affected families and grieving people of Nepal.

“The President conveyed his prayers for the families of the victims who lost their lives in the tragic incident and prayed to Allah Almighty to grant them the strength and the courage to bear this loss with patience and fortitude,” reads the statement.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry, in a statement, said: “We are saddened at this tragic accident and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims. We stand with the people of Nepal in their hour of grief.”

The Chinese ambassador to Nepal, Cheng Song, also said that he was very shocked to learn that a Yeti Airlines aircraft crashed in Pokhara, resulting in heavy casualties. “At this difficult time, our thoughts are with Nepali people. I would like to express my deep condolences to the victims, and sincere sympathies to the bereaved families,” he wrote in a tweet post.

In a tweet, the Embassy of the United States in Kathmandu also offered condolences to the victims and families.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic Yeti Airlines crash in Pokhara this morning. We are monitoring the situation carefully. We are currently not aware of any US citizens on board. Our hearts go out to the victims and families,” reads a tweet by the embassy.

Similarly, Australian ambassador to Nepal Felicity Volk said the embassy was devastated by the tragic Yeti Airlines crash in Pokhara this morning.

“We are working with authorities regarding the one Australian reported to be on the flight. Our hearts go out to all victims and their families,” she wrote in a tweet post.

Similarly, UK’s ambassador to Nepal, Nicola Kathryn Pollitt also expressed grief over the tragic plane crash in Pokhara on Sunday.

“Deeply saddened by the airline crash in Pokhara today. My thoughts are with with families of all those on board. The UK stands ready to support in any way we can. I commend the tireless efforts of the rescue services working in difficult circumstances,” reads a tweet by her.

UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal Hanna Singer Hamdy also extended her deep sympathies and condolences to those who lost their life in the plane crash.

“On behalf of myself, the SG & the UN staff, I’d like to extend my deep sympathies & condolences to Nepalese and foreign nationals on board the Yeti Airlines flight. What a terrible human loss. In these extremely difficult times, may God ease the pain of the families of the victims,” she tweeted.

Likewise, Russian President Vladimir Putin also conveyed his condolences over the deaths of people in the fatal air crash.

Russian news agency Tas reported that he expressed his grief by sending a condolence message to President Bidya Devi Bhandari.

“I would like to express my condolences to the dead and their families and friends who lost their lives in this terrible tragedy,” Putin said.

On Sunday morning, an ATR-72 aircraft of Yeti Airlines, which took off from the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu for Pokhara, met with an accident on the bank of Seti River between the old airport and the new airport. Among the 72 people onboard the aircraft, 68 dead bodies have already been recovered as of 9 am Monday. The search for the remaining four persons missing is currently underway.

The ill-fated aircraft had a total 15 foreign nationals including five Indians, four Russians, two South Koreans and one each from Australia, Ireland, France and Argentina onboard.

Last May, a Tara Air flight carrying 22 people crashed into a Himalayan mountain at an altitude of about 14,500 feet. That was the country’s 19th plane crash in 10 years and its 10th fatal one during the same period, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.

The government declared Monday a public holiday to mourn the victims.