The recent crash of the YETI airlines ATR 72 aircraft has left the residents of Ghazipur inconsolable since four of the five Indians killed in the crash were residents of the village. The deceased, identified as Abhishek Kushwaha, Vishal Sharma, Sonu and Anil Rajbhar, ran different businesses here. They were the sole earners for their families. Chandra Maurya, the father of the late Kushwaha, said he was the only earning member of the family. The deceased used to run a public service centre.
The whole district is inconsolable, and the local shopkeepers have not opened their shops today.
“In this hour of grief, the entire region stands with the deceased’s family,” a shop owner said. The situation is the same at Vishal Sharma’s house, where villagers have gathered to share their grief.
At least 68 people were killed when the Yeti Airlines passenger plane with 72 people on board, including five Indians, crashed into a river gorge while landing at the newly-opened airport in the central resort city of Pokhara, Nepal. The Nepal government has declared a national holiday today to mourn the deaths of the people killed in the crash.
Taking to Twitter yesterday, Prime Minister Modi tweeted, “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.”
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar; also expressed grief over the incident and extended his condolences to the victims.