China is building a new dam in Tibet on a tributary of the Ganga, close to the tri-junction of its borders with India and Nepal. A geospatial intelligence researcher, has shared new satellite images of China constructing a dam on the Mabja Zangbo river.

Reports: China building Dam near border with India, Nepal

Medical officials in Nepal started the grim process of delivering bodies to mourning families following Tuesday's crash of an aircraft carrying 72 passengers, the worst aviation accident in the Himalayan nation in three decades.&nbsp;

On Sunday, a Yeti Airlines plane carrying 68 passengers and four crew members crashed onto a cliff, broke apart, and caught fire as it approached Pokhara.

Six children and 15 foreigners were among those on board, and it is suspected that they all died.

Rescue workers have been working nearly nonstop to remove the dead bodies from the gorge, which is littered with twisted airplane seats and pieces of fuselage and wing.

Police spokesman AK Chhetri told AFP that by early Tuesday, 70 bodies had been discovered. The previous day, a top official stated that there was "no chance" of discovering any survivors.

"We retrieved one body last night. But it was three pieces. We are not sure whether it's three bodies or one body. It will be confirmed only after a DNA test," Chhetri said.

He stated that the search for the two remaining bodies&nbsp;had been extended to a two to three-kilometre (one to two-mile) area and that drones were being deployed.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Medical officials in Nepal started the grim process of delivering bodies to mourning families following Tuesday's crash of an aircraft carrying 72 passengers, the worst aviation accident in the Himalayan nation in three decades.

Medical officials in Nepal started the grim process of delivering bodies to mourning families following Tuesday's crash of an aircraft carrying 72 passengers, the worst aviation accident in the Himalayan nation in three decades. On Sunday, a Yeti Airlines plane carrying 68 passengers and four crew members crashed onto a cliff, broke apart, and caught fire as it approached Pokhara. Six children and 15 foreigners were among those on board, and it is suspected that they all died. Rescue workers have been working nearly nonstop to remove the dead bodies from the gorge, which is littered with twisted airplane seats and pieces of fuselage and wing. Police spokesman AK Chhetri told AFP that by early Tuesday, 70 bodies had been discovered. The previous day, a top official stated that there was "no chance" of discovering any survivors. "We retrieved one body last night. But it was three pieces. We are not sure whether it's three bodies or one body. It will be confirmed only after a DNA test," Chhetri said. He stated that the search for the two remaining bodies had been extended to a two to three-kilometre (one to two-mile) area and that drones were being deployed. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Nepal plane tragedy: Hospitals return bodies of air crash victims to grieving families

Whom do you blame for the deadly Yeti Airline crash in Nepal? Do you blame the airline? the pilots or the government? Molly Gambhir tells you how the government has been sitting on dozens of crash probe reports, doing absolutely nothing about them.

Gravitas | Nepal air crash: Is the Nepalese government to blame?

A plane carrying 72 people on board crashed in Nepal's Pokhara on Sunday. The incident claimed at least 68 lives. In the wake of the crash, the Nepali government has now mandated a technical test for flights to be conducted before departure. Watch to know more.

Nepal Plane Crash: 15 foreign nationals and 4 cabin crew members among 72 on board passengers

WION Dispatch | Nepal Plane Crash: Authorities starts returning bodies of crash victims

Who would have thought that this would be her last Tiktok video? Nepal Plane Tragedy took the lives of 68 people as per several latest reports. Among them, one was Oshin Ale Magar, an Air Hostess and a famous Tiktoker in Nepal. A video went viral for the tragic Yeti Airlines flight that crashed in Nepal on Sunday. It was recorded by an air hostess Oshin Ale. Oshin Ale, one of the four members of the cabin crew who lost her life in the disaster, was well-known on TikTok in Nepal. She may be seen posing on the plane in the TikTok video. After the video went viral on social media, people started condoling the death of Ale and prayed she rests in peace. Check the viral video here:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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Life is uncertain. 
 
The Air hostess in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YetiAirlinesCrash?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YetiAirlinesCrash</a>. 
Sharing TikTok video of Air Hostess Oshin Magar who lost her life in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NepalPlaneCrash?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NepalPlaneCrash</a> 
 
Rest in Peace !!💐<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Nepal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Nepal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/planecrash?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#planecrash</a> <a href="https://t.co/IET5esSQwF">pic.twitter.com/IET5esSQwF</a>
— Ketika 🦋 🅻🅸🆅🅴🆂 (@ActorsLives) <a href="https://twitter.com/ActorsLives/status/1615240287974199296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Father recounts last conversation with daughter</h2>

In the crash of Yeti Airlines' 9N-ANC ATR-72 which had 72 persons on board, Oshin, 24, was one of the 68 who died that day in the crash. Her father Mohan Ale Magar, a retired Indian Army personnel, recalls telling her not to go to work on that particular day early in the morning. On that fatal day, she insisted on celebrating the festival after finishing two flights, Mohan told Republica newspaper over the phone. According to the report, her father Mohan and mother Sabnam Ale Magar reached Pokhara to identify the dead body of their daughter.&nbsp;

At least 68 people were killed when a passenger jet carrying 72 people, including five Indians, crashed into a river gorge as it was making a landing at the recently completed airport in the tourist city of Pokhara. Though WION could not independently verify the authenticity of the video, a video surfaced online wherein a passenger apparently live-streamed the final moments before the crash. The accident on Sunday is the deadliest in Nepal since a Pakistan International Airlines jet crashed into a hill while attempting to land in Kathmandu in 1992, killing all 167 persons on board.

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Who would have thought that this would be her last Tiktok video? Nepal Plane Tragedy took the lives of 68 people as per several latest reports. Among them, one was Oshin Ale Magar, an Air Hostess and a famous Tiktoker in Nepal.

Who would have thought that this would be her last Tiktok video? Nepal Plane Tragedy took the lives of 68 people as per several latest reports. Among them, one was Oshin Ale Magar, an Air Hostess and a famous Tiktoker in Nepal. A video went viral for the tragic Yeti Airlines flight that crashed in Nepal on Sunday. It was recorded by an air hostess Oshin Ale. Oshin Ale, one of the four members of the cabin crew who lost her life in the disaster, was well-known on TikTok in Nepal. She may be seen posing on the plane in the TikTok video. After the video went viral on social media, people started condoling the death of Ale and prayed she rests in peace. Check the viral video here: Life is uncertain. The Air hostess in #YetiAirlinesCrash. Sharing TikTok video of Air Hostess Oshin Magar who lost her life in #NepalPlaneCrash Rest in Peace !!💐#Nepal #planecrash pic.twitter.com/IET5esSQwF — Ketika 🦋 🅻🅸🆅🅴🆂 (@ActorsLives) January 17, 2023 × Father recounts last conversation with daughter In the crash of Yeti Airlines' 9N-ANC ATR-72 which had 72 persons on board, Oshin, 24, was one of the 68 who died that day in the crash. Her father Mohan Ale Magar, a retired Indian Army personnel, recalls telling her not to go to work on that particular day early in the morning. On that fatal day, she insisted on celebrating the festival after finishing two flights, Mohan told Republica newspaper over the phone. According to the report, her father Mohan and mother Sabnam Ale Magar reached Pokhara to identify the dead body of their daughter. At least 68 people were killed when a passenger jet carrying 72 people, including five Indians, crashed into a river gorge as it was making a landing at the recently completed airport in the tourist city of Pokhara. Though WION could not independently verify the authenticity of the video, a video surfaced online wherein a passenger apparently live-streamed the final moments before the crash. The accident on Sunday is the deadliest in Nepal since a Pakistan International Airlines jet crashed into a hill while attempting to land in Kathmandu in 1992, killing all 167 persons on board. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WATCH | Air Hostess Oshin Ale's video before Nepal plane crash goes viral, father recalls LAST CONVERSATION

Black box of the crashed Yeti plane has been found. At least 68 bodies recovered in the Pokhara plan crash in Nepal. Rescue operations are underway and the airport is closed for the time being. Watch further to know more.

Nepal Plane Crash: Black box found, search operation underway

Nepal Plane Crash: Data from the black boxes recovered may help identify cause of the accident

Nepal's sad history of aviation disasters: A timeline of deadly plane crashes in the Himalayan nation

At least 68 bodies recovered in the Pokhara plan crash in Nepal. Rescue operations are underway and the airport is closed for the time being. Watch further to know more.

Nepal Plane Crash: Pokhara International Airport temporarily closed

WION Dispatch | Nepal Plane Crash: Worst airplane crash in 30 years

Nepal Plane Crash: Five Indians were on board the Yeti airlines ATR-72 flight

Nepal Plane Crash: Death toll rises to 68 people including 5 Indians

Nepal plane crash 2023:&nbsp;At least 68 people were killed after a domestic flight of Yeti Airlines carrying 72 passengers crashed near Pokhara International Airport in Nepal on Sunday (January 15) minutes before it was scheduled to land. The search and rescue operations by the country’s emergency personnel for the four people still missing began on Monday, while Nepal’s Army has said that they have not found anyone alive from the crash site in Pokhara.&nbsp;

The crash also marked the worst air disaster that the Himalayan nation has witnessed in the past three decades while Nepal continues to be one of the riskiest places to fly, as per multiple reports and the country’s poor flight safety record.&nbsp;The incident&nbsp;on Sunday was the deadliest in Nepal since the 1992&nbsp;Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A300 plane crash.&nbsp;

What happened in Pokhara?

As per reports, the flight had taken off from the Nepalese capital Kathmandu and was headed to Pokhara, however, minutes before completing the 27-minute flight and landing at the Pokhara International Airport it broke and caught on fire which was later doused. According to plane tracking data from FlightRadar24, the aircraft was 15 years old and “equipped with an old transponder with unreliable data.”

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-mourns-crash-victims-as-rescuers-search-for-four-missing-passengers-and-the-black-box-552974">Search teams find black boxes of the crashed Nepal flight that killed 68</a>

However, while the exact cause of the crash remains unknown the twin-engine ATR 72 aircraft’s black boxes which include a cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder have been recovered and handed over to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), said a Yeti airlines spokesperson.&nbsp;

According to the CAAN, the Yeti Airlines plane made contact with Pokhara airport from Seti Gorge at 10:50 am (local time) and “then it crashed”. The 72 passengers on board included three children, three infants, and four crew members out of which 57 were Nepalis. While the 15 foreign nations included five Indians, four Russians, one Irish, two South Korean, one Australian, one French and one Argentinian national onboard as per media reports.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nepal-plane-crash-pokhara-bound-flight-crashes-20-minutes-after-leaving-kathmandu-552879">Nepal Plane Crash: Pokhara bound flight crashes 20 minutes after leaving Kathmandu</a>

“I saw the plane trembling, moving left and right, and then suddenly it nosedived and it went into the gorge,” said Khum Bahadur Chhetri, a local resident to Reuters. While several previous crashes in Nepal have been attributed to the region’s sudden changes in weather which can contribute to hazardous flying conditions, on Sunday, they were reported to be clear. Therefore, there is no immediate indication of what caused the crash.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | A passenger aircraft crashed at Pokhara International Airport in Nepal today. 68 passengers and four crew members were onboard at the time of crash. Details awaited. <a href="https://t.co/DBDbTtTxNc">pic.twitter.com/DBDbTtTxNc</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1614510500121047040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The flight-tracking website, FlightRadar24 also said that the last signal from the transponder was received at 0512 GMT at an altitude of 2,875 feet above mean sea level while the Pokhara Airport is located at about 2,700 feet.&nbsp;Notably, the crash took place near the Nepalese city of Pokhara, a popular tourist destination and the starting point for the famous Annapurna Circuit Trek which attracts thousands of hikers every year.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-passenger-airplane-with-72-on-board-crashes-552768">Nepal’s worst air crash in 30 years: 68 killed as passenger plane with 72 onboard crashes near Pokhara</a>

Nepal’s reaction to the incident

After the incident, Nepal Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, said he was “deeply saddened by the sad and tragic accident.” Subsequently, he called an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers and directed the country’s home ministry, security personnel and government agencies to carry out immediate search and rescue operations, on Sunday. Meanwhile, he monitored the rescue and salvage efforts from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.&nbsp;

Additionally, the Nepalese PM also ordered an investigation into the crash and a five-member panel has been set up for the inquiry. Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister Bishnu Paudel told the press that the panel&nbsp;is expected to report within 45 days. The Himalayan nation is also observing a day of national mourning on Monday (January 16) for the victims of the crash.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-ground-report-nepal-government-mandates-technical-test-for-all-domestic-flights-553069">WION Ground Report: Nepal Government mandates technical test for all domestic flights</a>

The investigation by the government committee into the crash will also receive assistance from French authorities as the Yeti Airlines-operated twin-engine ATR 72 is manufactured by aerospace company ATR. “ATR specialists are fully engaged to support both the investigation and the customer,” said the France-based company, in a statement. Meanwhile, Yeti airlines have also cancelled all regular flights for Monday in “mourning for the passengers who lost their lives.”

The plane is said to have plummeted into a steep gorge and Army personnel used ropes and stretchers to retrieve bodies from the 300-metre-deep ravine. The search efforts were called off after dark on late Sunday, Army spokesman Krishna Prasad Bhandari said and was to resume the next day. According to Nepal Armed Police Force official, Shambhu Subedi, "the police, the&nbsp;armed police, the military and the Red Cross, all agencies are involved in the rescue and search operation”.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-plane-crash-pokhara-international-airport-was-inaugurated-two-weeks-ago-built-with-chinese-assistance-552873">Nepal plane crash: Pokhara International Airport was inaugurated two weeks ago, built with Chinese assistance</a>

He added that all the dead bodies have been transferred to the hospitals and due to the “very difficult” terrain it has been tough to carry out search operations at the crash sites, reported AP.&nbsp;

What makes air travel in Nepal risky?

As mentioned earlier, Nepal has a long and unfortunate history of plane crashes which have been attributed to a number of reasons ranging from sudden weather changes and&nbsp;mountainous topography of the region to&nbsp;lax regulations, making the Himalayan nation one of the riskiest places to fly. Notably, Nepal is also home to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains including Mount Everest.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/decoding-the-disasters-nepals-troubled-history-of-plane-crashes-552899">Decoding the disasters: Nepal's troubled history of plane crashes</a>

According to the data from Aviation Safety Network, the crash on Sunday not only marks the worst air disaster in the country in three decades but is also the third-worst aviation accident in Nepal’s history. Furthermore, the Himalayan nation has witnessed nearly 27 fatal plane crashes in the past 30 years out of which 20 have taken place in the last 10 years or so. A report by the country’s CAAN stated, “diversity of weather patterns together with hostile topography are the main challenges surrounding aircraft operations in Nepal due to which the number of accidents related to small aircraft….seems comparatively higher.”

The Himalayan nation has&nbsp;some of the most remote and tricky runways which even the most accomplished pilots face challenges navigating through. Additionally, aircraft operators have long said that the country lacks infrastructure for accurate weather forecasts, particularly in the remote mountainous regions where deadly plane crashes have taken place in the past.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nepal-plan-crash-final-moments-of-yeti-plane-caught-on-camera-just-before-crash-553104">Nepal Plane Crash: Final moments of Yeti plane caught on camera just before crash</a>

In addition to the aforementioned reasons, poor maintenance of aircraft&nbsp;as well as insufficient training of pilots, have also contributed to the number of plane crashes that have taken place in Nepal. In 2013, the European Union banned all Nepal-based airlines from its airspace citing safety concerns and the country’s requests to remove some airlines from the blacklist were rejected again last year, as per media reports.

Some of the most recent plane crashes in Nepal&nbsp;

May 29, 2022: At least 22 people including 16 Nepalis, four Indians and two German nationals were killed after a De Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter plane operated by Nepali carrier Tara Air crashed soon after taking off from Pokhara. Subsequently, the accident, in part, was attributed to poor weather conditions, as per a preliminary investigation carried out by CAAN.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/nepals-sad-history-of-aviation-disaster-a-timeline-of-deadly-plane-crashes-in-the-himalayan-nation-552885">Nepal's sad history of aviation disasters: A timeline of deadly plane crashes in the Himalayan nation</a>

April 14, 2019: At least three people were killed and four others were injured after a small plane veered off the runway while taking off near Mount Everest and hit a parked helicopter. The accident took place at an airport which is among the world’s most dangerous ones due to its short runway and difficult approach.&nbsp;

March 12, 2018: One of the deadliest aviation accidents in the country was witnessed on this day when 51 people were killed after a flight from the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka crash-landed at Kathmandu airport after skidding into a football field where it burst into flames.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Nepal plane crash 2023: At least 68 people were killed after a domestic flight of Yeti Airlines carrying 72 passengers crashed near Pokhara International Airport in Nepal on Sunday (January 15) minutes before it was scheduled to land.

Nepal plane crash 2023: At least 68 people were killed after a domestic flight of Yeti Airlines carrying 72 passengers crashed near Pokhara International Airport in Nepal on Sunday (January 15) minutes before it was scheduled to land. The search and rescue operations by the country’s emergency personnel for the four people still missing began on Monday, while Nepal’s Army has said that they have not found anyone alive from the crash site in Pokhara. The crash also marked the worst air disaster that the Himalayan nation has witnessed in the past three decades while Nepal continues to be one of the riskiest places to fly, as per multiple reports and the country’s poor flight safety record. The incident on Sunday was the deadliest in Nepal since the 1992 Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A300 plane crash. What happened in Pokhara? As per reports, the flight had taken off from the Nepalese capital Kathmandu and was headed to Pokhara, however, minutes before completing the 27-minute flight and landing at the Pokhara International Airport it broke and caught on fire which was later doused. According to plane tracking data from FlightRadar24, the aircraft was 15 years old and “equipped with an old transponder with unreliable data.” ALSO READ | Search teams find black boxes of the crashed Nepal flight that killed 68 However, while the exact cause of the crash remains unknown the twin-engine ATR 72 aircraft’s black boxes which include a cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder have been recovered and handed over to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), said a Yeti airlines spokesperson. According to the CAAN, the Yeti Airlines plane made contact with Pokhara airport from Seti Gorge at 10:50 am (local time) and “then it crashed”. The 72 passengers on board included three children, three infants, and four crew members out of which 57 were Nepalis. While the 15 foreign nations included five Indians, four Russians, one Irish, two South Korean, one Australian, one French and one Argentinian national onboard as per media reports. ALSO WATCH | Nepal Plane Crash: Pokhara bound flight crashes 20 minutes after leaving Kathmandu “I saw the plane trembling, moving left and right, and then suddenly it nosedived and it went into the gorge,” said Khum Bahadur Chhetri, a local resident to Reuters. While several previous crashes in Nepal have been attributed to the region’s sudden changes in weather which can contribute to hazardous flying conditions, on Sunday, they were reported to be clear. Therefore, there is no immediate indication of what caused the crash. #WATCH | A passenger aircraft crashed at Pokhara International Airport in Nepal today. 68 passengers and four crew members were onboard at the time of crash. Details awaited. pic.twitter.com/DBDbTtTxNc — ANI (@ANI) January 15, 2023 × The flight-tracking website, FlightRadar24 also said that the last signal from the transponder was received at 0512 GMT at an altitude of 2,875 feet above mean sea level while the Pokhara Airport is located at about 2,700 feet. Notably, the crash took place near the Nepalese city of Pokhara, a popular tourist destination and the starting point for the famous Annapurna Circuit Trek which attracts thousands of hikers every year. ALSO READ | Nepal’s worst air crash in 30 years: 68 killed as passenger plane with 72 onboard crashes near Pokhara Nepal’s reaction to the incident After the incident, Nepal Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, said he was “deeply saddened by the sad and tragic accident.” Subsequently, he called an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers and directed the country’s home ministry, security personnel and government agencies to carry out immediate search and rescue operations, on Sunday. Meanwhile, he monitored the rescue and salvage efforts from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Additionally, the Nepalese PM also ordered an investigation into the crash and a five-member panel has been set up for the inquiry. Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister Bishnu Paudel told the press that the panel is expected to report within 45 days. The Himalayan nation is also observing a day of national mourning on Monday (January 16) for the victims of the crash. ALSO WATCH | WION Ground Report: Nepal Government mandates technical test for all domestic flights The investigation by the government committee into the crash will also receive assistance from French authorities as the Yeti Airlines-operated twin-engine ATR 72 is manufactured by aerospace company ATR. “ATR specialists are fully engaged to support both the investigation and the customer,” said the France-based company, in a statement. Meanwhile, Yeti airlines have also cancelled all regular flights for Monday in “mourning for the passengers who lost their lives.” The plane is said to have plummeted into a steep gorge and Army personnel used ropes and stretchers to retrieve bodies from the 300-metre-deep ravine. The search efforts were called off after dark on late Sunday, Army spokesman Krishna Prasad Bhandari said and was to resume the next day. According to Nepal Armed Police Force official, Shambhu Subedi, "the police, the armed police, the military and the Red Cross, all agencies are involved in the rescue and search operation”. ALSO READ | Nepal plane crash: Pokhara International Airport was inaugurated two weeks ago, built with Chinese assistance He added that all the dead bodies have been transferred to the hospitals and due to the “very difficult” terrain it has been tough to carry out search operations at the crash sites, reported AP. What makes air travel in Nepal risky? As mentioned earlier, Nepal has a long and unfortunate history of plane crashes which have been attributed to a number of reasons ranging from sudden weather changes and mountainous topography of the region to lax regulations, making the Himalayan nation one of the riskiest places to fly. Notably, Nepal is also home to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains including Mount Everest. ALSO WATCH | Decoding the disasters: Nepal's troubled history of plane crashes According to the data from Aviation Safety Network, the crash on Sunday not only marks the worst air disaster in the country in three decades but is also the third-worst aviation accident in Nepal’s history. Furthermore, the Himalayan nation has witnessed nearly 27 fatal plane crashes in the past 30 years out of which 20 have taken place in the last 10 years or so. A report by the country’s CAAN stated, “diversity of weather patterns together with hostile topography are the main challenges surrounding aircraft operations in Nepal due to which the number of accidents related to small aircraft….seems comparatively higher.” The Himalayan nation has some of the most remote and tricky runways which even the most accomplished pilots face challenges navigating through. Additionally, aircraft operators have long said that the country lacks infrastructure for accurate weather forecasts, particularly in the remote mountainous regions where deadly plane crashes have taken place in the past. ALSO WATCH | Nepal Plane Crash: Final moments of Yeti plane caught on camera just before crash In addition to the aforementioned reasons, poor maintenance of aircraft as well as insufficient training of pilots, have also contributed to the number of plane crashes that have taken place in Nepal. In 2013, the European Union banned all Nepal-based airlines from its airspace citing safety concerns and the country’s requests to remove some airlines from the blacklist were rejected again last year, as per media reports. Some of the most recent plane crashes in Nepal May 29, 2022: At least 22 people including 16 Nepalis, four Indians and two German nationals were killed after a De Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter plane operated by Nepali carrier Tara Air crashed soon after taking off from Pokhara. Subsequently, the accident, in part, was attributed to poor weather conditions, as per a preliminary investigation carried out by CAAN. ALSO READ | Nepal's sad history of aviation disasters: A timeline of deadly plane crashes in the Himalayan nation April 14, 2019: At least three people were killed and four others were injured after a small plane veered off the runway while taking off near Mount Everest and hit a parked helicopter. The accident took place at an airport which is among the world’s most dangerous ones due to its short runway and difficult approach. March 12, 2018: One of the deadliest aviation accidents in the country was witnessed on this day when 51 people were killed after a flight from the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka crash-landed at Kathmandu airport after skidding into a football field where it burst into flames. (With inputs from agencies)

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At least 40 bodies recovered in the Pokhara plan crash in Nepal. Rescue operations are underway and the airport is closed for the time being. Watch further to know more.

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In the wake of the tragic plane crash in Nepal's Pokhara, a look back at the Himalayan nation's history of similar incidents in the recent past shows up a series of aviation disasters.

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A plane carrying 72 people on board crashed in Nepal's Pokhara on Sunday. The incident claimed at least 68 lives. In the wake of the crash, the Nepali government now mandated a technical test for flights to be conducted before departure.

WION Ground Report: Nepal Government mandates technical test for all domestic flights

At least 68&nbsp;people were killed after a&nbsp;passenger airplane with 72 people on board&nbsp;crashed near Pokhara International Airport in Nepal on Sunday (January 15) minutes before&nbsp;its scheduled landing, reported AFP. The officially declared death toll stands&nbsp;at 68 currently. It was a Yeti Airlines flight. Rescue operations were still underway at the time of the filing of this report and the airport had been closed. The condition of the four remaining flyers was not known yet. There were 68 passengers and four crew members, including two pilots and two airhostesses on the plane. Those on board included three infants and three children. There were five Indians on the flight among the 15 foreigners on the flight. 
 
The flight had taken off from Kathmandu and was headed to Pokhara. The plane crashed minutes before landing, broke and caught fire which was doused later. &nbsp;

A press statement by the&nbsp;Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal informed that there were&nbsp;53 passengers from Nepal, 5 from India, 4 from Russian, 2 from Korea,&nbsp;and one each from Ireland, Australia,&nbsp;Argentina and&nbsp;France on the flight.&nbsp;

Pokhara,&nbsp;one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nepal, is famous for its natural beauty, and for being the gateway to the Annapurna region and&nbsp;is about 200 kilometres from Nepalese capital Kathmandu.&nbsp; 
 
ATR identified the crashed plane as an ATR 72-500. According to plane tracking data from flightradar24.com, the aircraft was 15 years old and “equipped with an old transponder with unreliable data.”

Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda and Home Minister Ravi Lamichane were&nbsp;at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu overseeing the rescue effort. 
 
The Nepal government formed a five-member commission of inquiry to probe the Yeti Airlines plane crash in Pokhara.&nbsp;The emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers also announced a public holiday on January 16 to mourn the victims of the crash.&nbsp; 
 
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel said that the government has decided to observe one day of mourning.

<img alt="Nepal" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="07fea2a0-9adc-4189-8fba-78ef932c1c34" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-01-15%20at%2012.38.54.jpeg" />

(Image: ANI)

 
“The incident was tragic. All forces have been deployed for rescue (operations). The investigation is going on now. I have called an emergency cabinet meeting, and I&nbsp;am going to the cabinet meeting,” Prachanda&nbsp;told the media earlier.

As per the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Yeti Airlines' 9N-ANC ATR-72 aircraft took off from Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport at 10:33 am.&nbsp;

The aircraft crashed while it was trying to land at Pokhara airport. It crashed on the bank of the Seti river between the old airport and the new one.

"So far, dead bodies of 68 people have been recovered from the crash site," an official at the Search and Rescue Coordination Committee of the CAAN told the news agency PTI over the phone.&nbsp;However, the dead bodies are yet to be identified, he added.&nbsp; 
 
The five Indians have been identified as Sanjay Jaiswal, Sonu Jaiswal, Anil Kumar Rajbhar, Abhishek Kushwaha and Vishal Sharma.&nbsp;

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar shared the helpline numbers of the Indian Embassy in Nepal in a tweet and said,&nbsp;“Deeply grieved on hearing about the air crash in Pokhara, Nepal. Our thoughts are with the affected families.”

Plane crashes are common in Nepal, which has a poor flight safety record. 
 
Nepali airlines are banned from European Union airspace since 2013 after eight Britons were killed in a Kathmandu plane crash. 
 
In May 2022, all the 22 people, including four Indians, onboard a Tara Air flight on a Canadian-built turboprop Twin Otter 9N-AET plane were killed after it had crashed in Nepal’s mountainous Mustang district after departing from Pokhara. 
 
The Yeti Air crash on Sunday was the deadliest in Nepal since 1992, when a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A300 had crashed. On September 28, 1992, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Flight 268 had crashed while approaching Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport (KTM). All 167 passengers and crew were killed, making it the deadliest ever crash involving PIA and the worst crash in the history of Nepalese aviation.

Nepal, a Himalayan country, has some of the world's most remote and trickiest runways. Many of these are located between high, snow-capped mountain peaks, something that throws up challenges for even the most experienced pilots.

Nepal's aviation industry has been plagued by poor safety records. Insufficient training and maintenance are said to be the reasons.

Aircraft operators say Nepal lacks infrastructure for accurate weather forecasts, especially in remote areas with challenging mountainous terrain where deadly crashes have taken place in the past.&nbsp;

The weather can also change quickly in the mountains, creating treacherous flying conditions.

(With inputs from agencies)

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At least 68 people were killed after a passenger airplane with 72 people on board crashed near Pokhara International Airport in Nepal on Sunday (January 15) minutes before its scheduled landing, reported AFP.

At least 68 people were killed after a passenger airplane with 72 people on board crashed near Pokhara International Airport in Nepal on Sunday (January 15) minutes before its scheduled landing, reported AFP. The officially declared death toll stands at 68 currently. It was a Yeti Airlines flight. Rescue operations were still underway at the time of the filing of this report and the airport had been closed. The condition of the four remaining flyers was not known yet. There were 68 passengers and four crew members, including two pilots and two airhostesses on the plane. Those on board included three infants and three children. There were five Indians on the flight among the 15 foreigners on the flight. The flight had taken off from Kathmandu and was headed to Pokhara. The plane crashed minutes before landing, broke and caught fire which was doused later. A press statement by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal informed that there were 53 passengers from Nepal, 5 from India, 4 from Russian, 2 from Korea, and one each from Ireland, Australia, Argentina and France on the flight. Pokhara, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nepal, is famous for its natural beauty, and for being the gateway to the Annapurna region and is about 200 kilometres from Nepalese capital Kathmandu. ATR identified the crashed plane as an ATR 72-500. According to plane tracking data from flightradar24.com, the aircraft was 15 years old and “equipped with an old transponder with unreliable data.” Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda and Home Minister Ravi Lamichane were at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu overseeing the rescue effort. The Nepal government formed a five-member commission of inquiry to probe the Yeti Airlines plane crash in Pokhara. The emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers also announced a public holiday on January 16 to mourn the victims of the crash. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel said that the government has decided to observe one day of mourning. (Image: ANI) “The incident was tragic. All forces have been deployed for rescue (operations). The investigation is going on now. I have called an emergency cabinet meeting, and I am going to the cabinet meeting,” Prachanda told the media earlier. As per the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Yeti Airlines' 9N-ANC ATR-72 aircraft took off from Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport at 10:33 am. The aircraft crashed while it was trying to land at Pokhara airport. It crashed on the bank of the Seti river between the old airport and the new one. "So far, dead bodies of 68 people have been recovered from the crash site," an official at the Search and Rescue Coordination Committee of the CAAN told the news agency PTI over the phone. However, the dead bodies are yet to be identified, he added. The five Indians have been identified as Sanjay Jaiswal, Sonu Jaiswal, Anil Kumar Rajbhar, Abhishek Kushwaha and Vishal Sharma. India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar shared the helpline numbers of the Indian Embassy in Nepal in a tweet and said, “Deeply grieved on hearing about the air crash in Pokhara, Nepal. Our thoughts are with the affected families.” Plane crashes are common in Nepal, which has a poor flight safety record. Nepali airlines are banned from European Union airspace since 2013 after eight Britons were killed in a Kathmandu plane crash. In May 2022, all the 22 people, including four Indians, onboard a Tara Air flight on a Canadian-built turboprop Twin Otter 9N-AET plane were killed after it had crashed in Nepal’s mountainous Mustang district after departing from Pokhara. The Yeti Air crash on Sunday was the deadliest in Nepal since 1992, when a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A300 had crashed. On September 28, 1992, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Flight 268 had crashed while approaching Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport (KTM). All 167 passengers and crew were killed, making it the deadliest ever crash involving PIA and the worst crash in the history of Nepalese aviation. Nepal, a Himalayan country, has some of the world's most remote and trickiest runways. Many of these are located between high, snow-capped mountain peaks, something that throws up challenges for even the most experienced pilots. Nepal's aviation industry has been plagued by poor safety records. Insufficient training and maintenance are said to be the reasons. Aircraft operators say Nepal lacks infrastructure for accurate weather forecasts, especially in remote areas with challenging mountainous terrain where deadly crashes have taken place in the past. The weather can also change quickly in the mountains, creating treacherous flying conditions. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Nepal’s worst air crash in 30 years: 68 killed as passenger plane with 72 onboard crashes near Pokhara

BREAKING: At least 40 bodies recovered in the Pokhara plan crash

A 72-seater passenger aircraft crashed on the runway at Pokhara International Airport in Nepal. Rescue operations are underway and the airport is closed for the time being. Watch further to know more.

BREAKING: 72-seater passengers plane crashes in Nepal's Pokhara

The central bank of Nepal on Friday banned the citizens from making investments in foreign nations, issuing a warning that strict punishment would be given in such a case.

The central bank, Nepal Rastra Bank, issued a notice saying that Nepalese nationals cannot purchase houses, debenture, land and property in a foreign land and cannot deposit money in financial institutions and foreign banks abroad.

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nepal-president-gives-one-week-deadline-to-parties-to-form-new-government-544275">Nepal president grants one-week time to parties for forming new government</a>

The notice specified that no one can make any kind of payment in a foreign nation except if the bank specifically mentions it under the provision.

The citizens were appealed by the central bank to not get themselves assigned any work which may require payment from abroad, except according to the prescribed rules.

The notice added that if rules are violated by anyone, the authorities will take strict action under the prevailing laws.

WATCH|&nbsp;WION Dispatch: Nepal President wants new PM by Christmas

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Last year in April, the central bank of Nepal banned the import of luxury items and vehicles citing receding foreign exchange reserves and liquidity crunch, despite the assurance of the government that the economy will not witness a crisis similar to Sri Lanka.

The total foreign exchange reserves of Nepal increased marginally in mid-December by around 3 per cent to reach USD 9.82 billion, which can be used to manage imports for 8.7 months, as per the central bank data.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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The central bank of Nepal on Friday banned the citizens from making investments in foreign nations, issuing a warning that strict punishment would be given in such a case.

The central bank of Nepal on Friday banned the citizens from making investments in foreign nations, issuing a warning that strict punishment would be given in such a case. The central bank, Nepal Rastra Bank, issued a notice saying that Nepalese nationals cannot purchase houses, debenture, land and property in a foreign land and cannot deposit money in financial institutions and foreign banks abroad. ALSO READ| Nepal president grants one-week time to parties for forming new government The notice specified that no one can make any kind of payment in a foreign nation except if the bank specifically mentions it under the provision. The citizens were appealed by the central bank to not get themselves assigned any work which may require payment from abroad, except according to the prescribed rules. The notice added that if rules are violated by anyone, the authorities will take strict action under the prevailing laws. WATCH| WION Dispatch: Nepal President wants new PM by Christmas Last year in April, the central bank of Nepal banned the import of luxury items and vehicles citing receding foreign exchange reserves and liquidity crunch, despite the assurance of the government that the economy will not witness a crisis similar to Sri Lanka. The total foreign exchange reserves of Nepal increased marginally in mid-December by around 3 per cent to reach USD 9.82 billion, which can be used to manage imports for 8.7 months, as per the central bank data. (With inputs from agencies)

Central bank bars Nepalese nationals from investing in foreign nations

Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ led coalition government finally got the stamp of approval from the parliament after winning the vote of confidence in the House of Representatives on Tuesday with a thumping majority.

Out of 275 lawmakers present during the voting, 268 voted in favour of the government, while two were against it.

The House of Representatives has 89 lawmakers from the Nepali Congress, 79 lawmakers from UML, while CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist) and Rashtriya Swatantra Party have 32, 10 and 20 members, respectively.&nbsp;Janamat Party has 6 members, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party 4 and Nagarik Unmukti Party 3 members in the parliament.

The 68-year-old Nepal’s leader will lead an 11-party coalition. His Maoist Centre party is the third biggest party with 32 seats. It will govern with the&nbsp;support of other parties&nbsp;including, principally, the Communist Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) party with its 79 seats.

<h2>WION Dispatch | Sources: China-Nepal to meet on belt and road initiative</h2>

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Prachanda and KP Sharma Oli have singed a deal to govern the country on a rotational basis. He will govern the state for half of the scheduled five-year term.

Dahal was earlier in a pre-poll alliance with the Nepali Congress, but he quit later on after the party refused to back him for the premiership.

In a speech to lawmakers, Prachanda noted that "there is dissatisfaction among people with our work".

"I stand here to reverse this," he said, promising to work for stability and economic progress, as well as a "pro-Nepal" foreign policy of "balanced, trustworthy and friendly" relations with all countries including giant neighbours China and India.

Prachanda was sworn in as the prime minister on December 26 last year under article 76(2) of the Nepali Constitution under which any parliamentarian enjoying the support of the House in a hung scenario commands majority and proves it in the House within a month of the appointment.

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Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ led coalition government finally got the stamp of approval from the parliament after winning the vote of confidence in the House of Representatives on Tuesday with a thumping majority.

Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ led coalition government finally got the stamp of approval from the parliament after winning the vote of confidence in the House of Representatives on Tuesday with a thumping majority. Out of 275 lawmakers present during the voting, 268 voted in favour of the government, while two were against it. The House of Representatives has 89 lawmakers from the Nepali Congress, 79 lawmakers from UML, while CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist) and Rashtriya Swatantra Party have 32, 10 and 20 members, respectively. Janamat Party has 6 members, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party 4 and Nagarik Unmukti Party 3 members in the parliament. The 68-year-old Nepal’s leader will lead an 11-party coalition. His Maoist Centre party is the third biggest party with 32 seats. It will govern with the support of other parties including, principally, the Communist Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) party with its 79 seats. WION Dispatch | Sources: China-Nepal to meet on belt and road initiative Prachanda and KP Sharma Oli have singed a deal to govern the country on a rotational basis. He will govern the state for half of the scheduled five-year term. Dahal was earlier in a pre-poll alliance with the Nepali Congress, but he quit later on after the party refused to back him for the premiership. In a speech to lawmakers, Prachanda noted that "there is dissatisfaction among people with our work". "I stand here to reverse this," he said, promising to work for stability and economic progress, as well as a "pro-Nepal" foreign policy of "balanced, trustworthy and friendly" relations with all countries including giant neighbours China and India. Prachanda was sworn in as the prime minister on December 26 last year under article 76(2) of the Nepali Constitution under which any parliamentarian enjoying the support of the House in a hung scenario commands majority and proves it in the House within a month of the appointment. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ wins vote of confidence with landslide majority

Several experts have expressed concerns that Nepal would now turn pro-China under the new Prachanda-Oli alliance. But if one examines closely, there are few catches and subtleties to it. &nbsp;

WION spoke to experts on Nepalese politics, including former ambassador to Nepal, Ranjit Rae. &nbsp;

How will the new Prachanda-Oli alliance impact India-Nepal relations?&nbsp;

In a conversation with WION, former Indian envoy to Nepal, Ranjit Rae said India and Nepal have very “comprehensive, strong and ancient relationship” which is not just between the governments but also between the people. He said India has to work with whichever government is in power in Nepal because both countries have economic and security interests with each other. &nbsp;

So are the apprehensions that Nepal will turn anti-India unwarranted then? &nbsp;

Aditya Gowdara Shivamurthy, an expert with the think tank ORF, opined that it is difficult to say if the current election results could drastically damage India-Nepal relations. &nbsp;

Shivamurthy said political stability inside Nepal is itself a challenge. &nbsp;

“The current coalition government is a compromise of various parties with very different ideologies. It is not difficult to suggest that internal cohesion and compromise will be a challenge in the coming days. The strong anti-Indian policy will also likely trigger more divisions within the coalition,” he pointed out. &nbsp;

Dr. Anshuman Behera, Associate professor at National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, termed Nepal a kind of “paradox” with respect to its relations with India. &nbsp;

He pointed out that Nepalese people and the political elite want India to help Nepal but at the same time, they hold India responsible for all that is happening wrong. &nbsp;

“This is a very subtle but important mindset they have,” he said adding, “They (Nepal) have to do business with India because it is a landlocked country.”&nbsp;

South Asian nations today are displaying more agency than they ever did, Shivamurthy said in regards to China-Nepal alliance.&nbsp;

However, he also cautioned that it is pivotal that they maintain balance. &nbsp;

This will likely shape how Nepal-China relations will factor in India. “They might muster anti-Indian sentiments but they will also hesitate to cross the red lines,” he added. &nbsp;

WION Dispatch: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-dispatch-pushpa-kamal-dahal-prachanda-takes-oath-as-nepals-pm-for-third-time-546784">Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' takes oath as Nepal's PM for third time</a> 
&nbsp;

Anti-India rhetoric for domestic political gains&nbsp;

Dr. Behera, Ambassador Rae and Shivamurthy all agreed that Nepal's rhetoric against India is primarily helping leaders advance in their local political ambitions.&nbsp;

“In Nepal, all leaders play the anti-India card to become popular. Politically, it makes sense for leaders to say we can stand up to India. I am the stronger leader. Therefore, in every election, you have this kind of rhetoric. That is why when there is any issue in India, it is blown up in the Nepalese media,” said Rae. &nbsp;

“Oli highlights issues with India, for it has been easier to make domestic political gains by putting up a Goliath vs David story,” said Shivamurthy. &nbsp;

He remarked that cultural similarities and political relations with India only give this a political flavour as China on the other hand is a new player and might not be able to muster political and nationalist sentiments like India does. &nbsp;

Commenting over how domestic political gain&nbsp;is one of the most important reasons for Nepal’s anti-India rhetoric, Dr. Behera asked, “If not this, how do you create an euphoria in Nepal?”&nbsp;

“Domestic politics in Nepal is more and more conceived around anti-India and pro-India rhetoric because India does play an important role not in politics but also in the Nepal’s society, culture and religions,” he said. &nbsp; 
 
India-Nepal border issues &nbsp; 
 
Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipulekh regions have remained sore points in India-Nepal relations. Ambassador Rae said that border issue has become very complicated as Nepal in its new map showed some Indian territories as its own.&nbsp;

“This map has been endorsed by two-thirds majority in the Nepalese parliament. I don’t think this is going to get resolved anytime soon,” he said. &nbsp;

Dr. Behera said India should not have apprehensions but at the same time it cannot relax as well. “There are concerns about territorial incursions that KP Oli brought in for a couple of years. If not anything, this is for India's territorial integrity.” &nbsp;

He said in the run-up to the elections, there was something very interesting happened this time. “For the first time, Chinese incursions were highlighted in the elections by Nepali Congress,” he said. &nbsp;

What is the future of US’ $500 million MCC project?&nbsp;

The US government aid agency had agreed in 2017 to provide USD 500 million in grants for cross-border electricity transmission and road connectivity to Nepal. This is known as Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). However, the project has been surrounded by Nepal's internal political conflicts with one party supporting the grant while others, not so much.&nbsp;

The relevance of balancing and agency display could also be seen here, said expert Shivamurthy. Under the government of Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nepal tried to build a broader political coalition to pass the MCC Act but how the new dispensation will react to the US will also depend on the extent of China's “elite capture” in the government, and the political stability of the government, he added.&nbsp;

If the project goes smoothly, it will benefit India as well. &nbsp;

How? Ex-envoy Rae explained that communist parties were opposed to MCC earlier as they thought it was anti-China and part of the Indo-Pacific strategy. &nbsp;

Now the communist parties are ruling the country. “I hope the implementation of this goes ahead smoothly as it is very important to building Nepal's productive capacity in terms of road infrastructure and transmission lines,” he elaborated. &nbsp;

Dr Behera explained that the one reason Oli was not supporting MCC was because he had a lot of corruption charges against him. “By negating MCC in the Nepalese parliament, Oli was trying to overshadow a lot of corruption charges that are there against him. So when the Nepali Congress came for a short stint they tried to push MCC.”&nbsp;

He also said that MCC will benefit Nepal’s economy. &nbsp;

Why Deuba was trying to push this was because following the pandemic in Nepal, the economy of Nepal was in a very bad shape. “$500 million boost would have actually supported Nepal's economy to a great extent.”&nbsp;

China’s interference in Nepal’s domestic affairs&nbsp;

In India, some policymakers and experts often feel Nepal will be taken over by China and Beijing has a very important role to play in Nepal. But many tend to forget that Nepal is an independent and sovereign country, said Dr. Behera. &nbsp;

On the other hand, he continued, some critics over-aspire that India should play an important role in Nepal's politics. “Both of them are mutually flawed. One has to understand that Nepal has an independent internal political balance,” he asserted. &nbsp;

Shivamurthy argued that this is not the first time that China has intervened in Nepal’s domestic affairs. “It had played a crucial role in bringing the communist alliance together when the divisions were at their peak during the last tenure. This election has a lot at stake for China after Deuba's tenure. Most of Beijing’s projects continue to be unimplemented yet. Beijing's role in bridging an alliance between two factions cannot be overruled,” he pointed out. &nbsp;

Meanwhile, Rae underscored that the Prachanda-Oli coalition is something that has been tried earlier with the help of Chinese support but had come to an end earlier.&nbsp;

Internal fighting and Prachanda’s political opportunism&nbsp;

“KP Oli is anti-India, if not completely unconditionally pro-China. At the same time, Prachanda's political opportunism does not give him the credentials of a seasoned politician to the extent that his own party's people, including ex-prime minister of Nepal, Baburam Bhattarai, walked out on Maoists,” Dr. Behera said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Prachanda and Oli were co-chairs of the unified CPM but the fallout between the two led to the division of the party and the eventual ouster of Oli as Prime Minister of Nepal. Now the friends-turned-foes are friends again.

On this, Dr. Behera said, “I have been following him (Prachanda). He is known to have deviated from any political ideology he claims to follow. There is this unholy alliance between CPM (Maoist) and UML but just remember that a year before, the same Prachanda withdrew from the communist alliance between KP Oli and the undivided UML and the CPM formed the government.” &nbsp;

“If one looks at this pre-election alliance, it takes Nepal politics to a different level of unethical political stand. Prachanda's government is going to survive going by the new constitution of Nepal and they cannot hold a no-confidence motion against him. But whether Prachanda will support Oli or not it is not sure.”

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Several experts have expressed concerns that Nepal would now turn pro-China under the new Prachanda-Oli alliance. But if one examines closely, there are few catches and subtleties to it.

Several experts have expressed concerns that Nepal would now turn pro-China under the new Prachanda-Oli alliance. But if one examines closely, there are few catches and subtleties to it. WION spoke to experts on Nepalese politics, including former ambassador to Nepal, Ranjit Rae. How will the new Prachanda-Oli alliance impact India-Nepal relations? In a conversation with WION, former Indian envoy to Nepal, Ranjit Rae said India and Nepal have very “comprehensive, strong and ancient relationship” which is not just between the governments but also between the people. He said India has to work with whichever government is in power in Nepal because both countries have economic and security interests with each other. So are the apprehensions that Nepal will turn anti-India unwarranted then? Aditya Gowdara Shivamurthy, an expert with the think tank ORF, opined that it is difficult to say if the current election results could drastically damage India-Nepal relations. Shivamurthy said political stability inside Nepal is itself a challenge. “The current coalition government is a compromise of various parties with very different ideologies. It is not difficult to suggest that internal cohesion and compromise will be a challenge in the coming days. The strong anti-Indian policy will also likely trigger more divisions within the coalition,” he pointed out. Dr. Anshuman Behera, Associate professor at National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, termed Nepal a kind of “paradox” with respect to its relations with India. He pointed out that Nepalese people and the political elite want India to help Nepal but at the same time, they hold India responsible for all that is happening wrong. “This is a very subtle but important mindset they have,” he said adding, “They (Nepal) have to do business with India because it is a landlocked country.” South Asian nations today are displaying more agency than they ever did, Shivamurthy said in regards to China-Nepal alliance. However, he also cautioned that it is pivotal that they maintain balance. This will likely shape how Nepal-China relations will factor in India. “They might muster anti-Indian sentiments but they will also hesitate to cross the red lines,” he added. WION Dispatch: Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' takes oath as Nepal's PM for third time Anti-India rhetoric for domestic political gains Dr. Behera, Ambassador Rae and Shivamurthy all agreed that Nepal's rhetoric against India is primarily helping leaders advance in their local political ambitions. “In Nepal, all leaders play the anti-India card to become popular. Politically, it makes sense for leaders to say we can stand up to India. I am the stronger leader. Therefore, in every election, you have this kind of rhetoric. That is why when there is any issue in India, it is blown up in the Nepalese media,” said Rae. “Oli highlights issues with India, for it has been easier to make domestic political gains by putting up a Goliath vs David story,” said Shivamurthy. He remarked that cultural similarities and political relations with India only give this a political flavour as China on the other hand is a new player and might not be able to muster political and nationalist sentiments like India does. Commenting over how domestic political gain is one of the most important reasons for Nepal’s anti-India rhetoric, Dr. Behera asked, “If not this, how do you create an euphoria in Nepal?” “Domestic politics in Nepal is more and more conceived around anti-India and pro-India rhetoric because India does play an important role not in politics but also in the Nepal’s society, culture and religions,” he said. India-Nepal border issues Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipulekh regions have remained sore points in India-Nepal relations. Ambassador Rae said that border issue has become very complicated as Nepal in its new map showed some Indian territories as its own. “This map has been endorsed by two-thirds majority in the Nepalese parliament. I don’t think this is going to get resolved anytime soon,” he said. Dr. Behera said India should not have apprehensions but at the same time it cannot relax as well. “There are concerns about territorial incursions that KP Oli brought in for a couple of years. If not anything, this is for India's territorial integrity.” He said in the run-up to the elections, there was something very interesting happened this time. “For the first time, Chinese incursions were highlighted in the elections by Nepali Congress,” he said. What is the future of US’ $500 million MCC project? The US government aid agency had agreed in 2017 to provide USD 500 million in grants for cross-border electricity transmission and road connectivity to Nepal. This is known as Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). However, the project has been surrounded by Nepal's internal political conflicts with one party supporting the grant while others, not so much. The relevance of balancing and agency display could also be seen here, said expert Shivamurthy. Under the government of Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nepal tried to build a broader political coalition to pass the MCC Act but how the new dispensation will react to the US will also depend on the extent of China's “elite capture” in the government, and the political stability of the government, he added. If the project goes smoothly, it will benefit India as well. How? Ex-envoy Rae explained that communist parties were opposed to MCC earlier as they thought it was anti-China and part of the Indo-Pacific strategy. Now the communist parties are ruling the country. “I hope the implementation of this goes ahead smoothly as it is very important to building Nepal's productive capacity in terms of road infrastructure and transmission lines,” he elaborated. Dr Behera explained that the one reason Oli was not supporting MCC was because he had a lot of corruption charges against him. “By negating MCC in the Nepalese parliament, Oli was trying to overshadow a lot of corruption charges that are there against him. So when the Nepali Congress came for a short stint they tried to push MCC.” He also said that MCC will benefit Nepal’s economy. Why Deuba was trying to push this was because following the pandemic in Nepal, the economy of Nepal was in a very bad shape. “$500 million boost would have actually supported Nepal's economy to a great extent.” China’s interference in Nepal’s domestic affairs In India, some policymakers and experts often feel Nepal will be taken over by China and Beijing has a very important role to play in Nepal. But many tend to forget that Nepal is an independent and sovereign country, said Dr. Behera. On the other hand, he continued, some critics over-aspire that India should play an important role in Nepal's politics. “Both of them are mutually flawed. One has to understand that Nepal has an independent internal political balance,” he asserted. Shivamurthy argued that this is not the first time that China has intervened in Nepal’s domestic affairs. “It had played a crucial role in bringing the communist alliance together when the divisions were at their peak during the last tenure. This election has a lot at stake for China after Deuba's tenure. Most of Beijing’s projects continue to be unimplemented yet. Beijing's role in bridging an alliance between two factions cannot be overruled,” he pointed out. Meanwhile, Rae underscored that the Prachanda-Oli coalition is something that has been tried earlier with the help of Chinese support but had come to an end earlier. Internal fighting and Prachanda’s political opportunism “KP Oli is anti-India, if not completely unconditionally pro-China. At the same time, Prachanda's political opportunism does not give him the credentials of a seasoned politician to the extent that his own party's people, including ex-prime minister of Nepal, Baburam Bhattarai, walked out on Maoists,” Dr. Behera said. Prachanda and Oli were co-chairs of the unified CPM but the fallout between the two led to the division of the party and the eventual ouster of Oli as Prime Minister of Nepal. Now the friends-turned-foes are friends again. On this, Dr. Behera said, “I have been following him (Prachanda). He is known to have deviated from any political ideology he claims to follow. There is this unholy alliance between CPM (Maoist) and UML but just remember that a year before, the same Prachanda withdrew from the communist alliance between KP Oli and the undivided UML and the CPM formed the government.” “If one looks at this pre-election alliance, it takes Nepal politics to a different level of unethical political stand. Prachanda's government is going to survive going by the new constitution of Nepal and they cannot hold a no-confidence motion against him. But whether Prachanda will support Oli or not it is not sure.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

DECODING: What does Nepal’s new Prachanda-Oli coalition mean for India?

China is keenly looking at increasing its stakes in South Asia and now Nepal is on its radar. Sources say a high-level Chinese delegation will be visiting Kathmandu next week, and the focus of their visit will be the belt and road initiative.

WION Dispatch | Sources: China-Nepal to meet on belt and road initiative

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