Yeti crash: Onlookers crowd and traffic congestion at crash site affecting rescue efforts

Crowd of local people and traffic congestion at and near the aircraft crash site in Pokhara have affected rescue efforts, said security agencies.

It is increasingly becoming difficult for fire engines, trucks carrying water and rescue vehicles to reach out for the victims, said security personnel deployed at the accident site. Telephone network is not working as well, thus adding to the problem, it has been said.

Meanwhile, two choppers have been deployed for search and rescue efforts, according to a statement issued by the search and rescue coordination centre under the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.

For search and rescue efforts, additional helicopters have been kept standby at Kathmandu and Pokhara airports, and teams of the Nepali Army, Armed Police Force, the ‘rescue and firefighting’ at the airport, and Nepal Police have been deployed for the same by roadways, according to Centre.

The ATR 72 aircraft of the Yeti Airlines that took off for Pokhara at 10:33 am from the Tribhuvan International Airport crashed in the Seti gorge in Pokhara after it lost contact at 10:50 am.

There were 78 passengers and four crew members onboard the plane when it met with an accident. The passengers included 53 Nepalis, five Indians, four Russians, one Irish, one Argentinian, two Koreans and one French national. The crew members are captains Kamal KC and Anju Khatiwada, and airhostess Srijana Hongchun and Osin Alemagar.