The Kashmir Pulse

KATHMANDU — A private airline's Pokhara-bound plane crashed during takeoff at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) here, killing 18 of the 19 people on board.

The pilot of the Saurya Airlines plane survived the crash and was taken to hospital, officials said. The crash took place when the aircraft veered off the runway and burst into flames.

Footage from the spot showed dramatic scenes of the plane speeding down the runway before a fire broke out with high flames and thick black smoke billowing from the wreckage.

At least 19 people, including aircrew, were aboard the private Saurya Airlines plane which met with the accident at around 11 am, sources said.

The Kathmandu Post newspaper reported that 18 bodies have been recovered from the crash site. “The accident occurred after the Pokhara-bound flight suffered a runway excursion during takeoff,” said TIA spokesperson Subash Jha.

The Himalayan Times newspaper reported that the plane was only carrying technical staff of the airline. ”There were no passengers on board but the plane was carrying few technical staff,” Gyanendra Bhul, information officer at the TIA, said.

The pilot of the aircraft has been taken to a hospital, a security official deployed at the airport told PTI without giving further details. A fire that broke out from the aircraft has been put off, he added. Police and firefighters are carrying out rescue operations at the accident site.

Authorities have shut down the TIA following the plane crash, the MyRepublica news portal reported. Dozens of international and domestic flights have been affected due to the airport closure.

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ANANTNAG — Two non-local labourers working in a private school were shot at and injured in Wanihama area of Anantnag district on Thursday.

An official told the news agency KNO that two labourers working in Sabir Abdullah Public School (SAPS) in Wanihama were shot at and injured inside the school by militants. He said that the duo were shifted to GMC Anantnag for treatment.

An official of GMC told KNO that both of them, identified as Vikram from Bihar and Badahur from Nepal, are being treated at the hospital.

Principal GMC Anantnag Dr Tariq Qureshi told KNO that condition of one is stable while as the other is critical and both are being treated.

Meanwhile, Kashmir Police on its official Twitter handle also confirmed that two persons were injured.

“Terrorist fired upon two outside labourers (one from Bihar and another from Nepal), who were working at a private SAPS school at Bondialgam in Anantnag district. Both of them are being shifted to hospital. Further details shall follow,” a police spokesman tweeted.

Meanwhile, ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar tweeted, “This is a cowardice and inhumane act of terrorism. The victims were called by terrorist to come out to engage in a work. Once the both came out, terrorist fired upon them with a pistol. We are investigating on top priority. Culprit would be brought to justice soon.”

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