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The government has decided to form a five-member probe commission to investigate Saurya Airlines plane crash.

An emergency Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday formed a five-member probe commission under the headship of former Director General of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Ratish Chandra Lal Suman.

Dipu Jwarchan, Sudip Bhattarai, Sanjay Adhikari and Mukesh Dangol are the members of the commission, government spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung informed.

The commission has to submit the report within 45 days, he said.

The government has also decided to observe mourning on Thursday.

The government has decided to fly the national flag half mast for the same, Minister Gurung said.

At least 18 people died when an aircraft with call sign CRJ7 (Reg 9NAME) belonging to Saurya Airlines crashed during takeoff at the Tribhuvan International Airport at 11:11 am on Wednesday, the CAAN informed.

Pilot Manish Shakya, however, was rescued alive. He is undergoing treatment at the Sinamangal-based KMC Hospital.

According to a preliminary investigation of the Authority, the plane skidded off the runway and fell into a ditch on the eastern side of the runway while taking off for Pokhara.

Israel has agreed to recruit 2,000 Nepali workers as caregivers amid its full-scale war with Hamas.

In a meeting with newly appointed Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Sharat Singh Bhandari at his office on Monday, Israeli Ambassador to Nepal Hanan Godder shared that the number of Nepali workers going to work as caregivers in Israel has been increased.

According to Govinda Prasad Rijal, Spokesperson at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, a total of 1,000 main candidates and 1,000 candidates in waiting lists could be recruited as per the latest agreement.

Earlier, it was agreed that 500 main candidates and 300 candidates in the waiting list would be hired as a caregiver in Israel. 

During the meeting, various aspects and dynamics of bilateral labor relations between the two countries were discussed, including the ongoing selection process of the aspiring candidates to work as caregivers in Israel.

Rijal shared that Minister Bhandari and the Israeli envoy also talked about the possibility of taking Nepali workers to Israel in agriculture and other sectors.

Expressing satisfaction regarding labor relations between Nepal and Israel, Minister Bhandari urged the Israeli envoy to take more initiatives to search and find Nepali national Bipin Joshi who has been missing in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Israel is currently in a full-scale war with Hamas. In the Oct 7 attack, 10 Nepalis were killed and Bipin Joshi, is still out of contact. Yet, Nepali government, in its initiative, has asked Israel to recruit more Nepalis despite knowing the situation.  

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has expressed sorrow over the Saurya Airlines plane crash that occurred this morning at the Tribhuvan International Airport, killing 18 people on board.

The Prime Minister took to social media and said he is deeply saddened by the death of 18 people in the plane crash.

He urged all for patience at this hour of grief. 

The plane with the call sign 9N- AME skidded off the runway and fell into a ditch on the eastern side of the runway while taking off for Pokhara.

The incident took place at 11:11 am. 

The government is to investigate the Saurya Airlines plane accident that occurred at the Tribhuvan International Airport on Wednesday.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey visited the scene following the plane crash and said that an investigation would be conducted into the incident.

He expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident.

“It is a tragic incident. I expressed my condolences to the families of those who were killed in the accident,” Minister Pandey said, adding, “We have collected the initial information. Investigation will be conducted soon.”

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak had also reached the accident site to inspect the incident.

After inspecting the incident site, Prime Minister Oli reached the Rescue Coordination Center of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal and took the necessary briefing.

An aircraft belonging to Saurya Airlines with call sign CRJ7(Reg 9NAME) crashed at the TIA during takeoff at 11:11 am on Wednesday.

The CAAN confirmed that 18 people were killed in the incident.

Pilot Manish Shakya was rescued alive and taken to the Sinamangal-based KMC Hospital for treatment.

According to the Authority, the plane turned right soon after it took off and crashed at the eastern side of the runway.

The aircraft caught fire following the incident.

The plane was completely destroyed in the fire though the firefighters and security personnel tried to put it out.

Along with pilot Shakya, there were S Dhakal (co-pilot), Amitman Maharjan, Sagar Acharya, Dilip Verma, Manuraj Sharma, Ashwin Niroula, Sudip Lal Joshi, Sarbesh Marasain, Shyam Bindukar, Nawaraj Ale, Raja Ram Acharya, Priza Khatiwada, Adhiraj Sharma, Uddhab Puri, Yagya Prasad Poudyal, Santosh Mahato, Punya Ratna Saahi and Aref Reda on board the ill-fated aircraft with call sign 9 N AME.

The Authority said that all the people lost their lives except pilot Shakya.

It has been learnt that three persons of single family also died in the accident.

Saurya Airlines technician Manuraj Sharma, his wife, Priza Khatiwada and son Adhiraj Sharma died in the same incident.

The aircraft was flying to Pokhara with staffers and technicians for the maintenance of another plane of Saurya Airlines when the tragedy occured.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 27. 32 points to close at 2,536.11 points on Wednesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 6. 25 points to close at 452. 93 points.

A total of 40,747,226-unit shares of 311 companies were traded for Rs 16. 20 billion.

Meanwhile, Bottlers Nepal (Terai) Limited (BNT) and Asian Hydropower Limited (AHL) were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Chirkhwa Hydropower Limited (CKHL) was the top loser with its price dropped by 7. 79 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 02 trillion.

The import of electric vehicles (EVs) is showing no signs of stopping. According to the Department of Customs (DoC), a total of 11,701 electric cars, jeeps, and vans worth Rs 29.48bn were imported into the country in the fiscal year 2023/24.

This marks a growth of a whopping 188.91 percent compared to 2022/23 when 4,050 units of electric cars, jeeps, and vans entered the country. In 2019/20, Nepal imported 236 units of electric vehicles worth Rs 674m.

Additionally, 9,057 units of electric three-wheelers worth Rs 938.89m were imported into the country in the previous fiscal year. Likewise, 3,114 units of unassembled electric three-wheelers worth Rs 355.64m entered the country in 2023/24. Electric three-wheelers are a popular mode of transport outside Kathmandu Valley, especially in the southern plains of Tarai.

The majority of electric cars, jeeps, and vans imported into the country during the period had a 51-100 KW motor capacity. Customs data shows 6,885 units of EVs worth Rs 19.67bn in this category were imported into the country in the review year.

Likewise, 4,571 units of electric cars, jeeps, and vans with motor capacities up to 50 KW were imported during the year. The total import value of these cars was Rs 8.6bn. Similarly, 217 units of electric cars, jeeps, and vans with 201-200 KW capacity worth Rs 1.01bn were imported into the country during the review year.

Customs data shows 27 units of electric cars, jeeps, and vans with 201-300 KW of peak power were imported during the year. The total import value of these cars was Rs 195.98m. Likewise, one unit of a car with power exceeding 300 KW was imported during the year. The cost of the car was Rs 12,751,000.

The government collected Rs 13.28bn in import revenue from imports of electric cars, jeeps, and vans during the year. Likewise, import revenue of Rs 433.35m was mobilized from the import of assembled and unassembled electric three-wheelers.

Electric cars, jeeps, and vans worth Rs 11.84bn were imported into the country in 2022/23. The government mobilized Rs 3.3bn as import revenue from such imports. The majority of imports during the period were up to 50 KW motor capacity.

A majority of these EVs came from China, followed by India. Nepal also imports EVs from countries like South Korea, Indonesia, and Germany. BYD and Tata are popular EV brands in Nepal, while MG, Kia, Hyundai, Seres, Omoda, Deepal, and Seres are also doing well. EVs from premium brands like Tesla and Audi are also seen on Nepali roads.

At least 18 people died when a Saurya Airline plane crashed during takeoff at the Tribhuvan International Airport on Wednesday.

Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) spokesperson Hansaraj Pandey said that the bodies of 18 people have been recovered from the incident site and pilot Manish Shakya has been taken to the Sinamangal-based KMC Hospital for treatment.

Information Officer Gyanendra Bhul informed the plane was carrying 19 persons including crew members.

Along with pilot Shakya, there were S Dhakal (co-pilot), Amitman Maharjan, Sagar Acharya, Dilip Verma, Manuraj Sharma, Ashwin Niroula, Sudip Lal Joshi, Sarbesh Marasain, Shyam Bindukar, Nawaraj Ale, Raja Ram Acharya, Priza Khatiwada, Adhiraj Sharma, Uddhab Puri, Yagya Prasad Poudyal, Santosh Mahato, Punya Ratna Saahi and Aref Reda on board the ill-fated aircraft with call sign 9 N AME.

Preparations are underway to take the bodies to the Maharajgunj-based Tribhuvan Universtity Teaching Hospital (TUTH), SSP Dambar BK informed.

The aircraft was flying to Pokhara with staffers and technicans for the maintenance when the tragedy occured.

Captain Manish Shakya has been injured when a Saurya Airlines plane crashed during takeoff at the Tribhuvan International Airport on Wednesday.

Dinesh Raj Mainali, spokesperson at the Kathmandu Valley Police Office, said that Shakya has been taken to the Sinamangal-based KMC Hospital for treatment.

The aircraft carrying19 people including crew members caught fire following the incident.

Firefighters and security personnel are trying to put out the fire.

More details to follow….