Nepal has launched its biggest anti-corruption investigation yet, targeting a Chinese company involved in the construction of the Pokhara International Airport. The case has sparked major political and diplomatic attention, raising questions about procurement, transparency, and foreign involvement in national infrastructure projects.


Nepal Corruption: Case Against Chinese Company Over Pokhara Airport Construction

Pokhara Airport Probe: Nepal’s Biggest Anti-Corruption Case Targets Chinese Company

People in Nepal fear that Pokhara could become the next Gwadar. The city's China-funded and China-built airport is not generating revenue. There are no international flights. People fear China may seize the airport over non-payment of loans.

Gravitas | Explained: Pokhara & Anti-China protests in Nepal

The Pokhara plane crash in Nepal, involving pilots with limited experience at the airport, highlights the critical importance of rigorous training and adherence to safety standards in aviation. Human error, combined with Nepal's challenging topography and unpredictable weather, has led to a worrying trend of aviation disasters in the country. With over 900 lives lost in Nepalese air accidents since 1955, brings to light the dire need for improved aviation practices.

Gravitas | Pokhara Crash Report: A wake-up call for Nepal's aviation safety

International flights are now operating from Nepal's Pokhara International Airport. The airport inaugurated in January has performed barely and has barely managed to sustain itself. Notably, it was built with China's support.

Nepal Pokhara Airport built with Beijing support

Nepal's capital Kathmandu has banned the screening of all Bollywood movies, including 'Adipurush'. The audience has called out a dialogue which seems to be misleading. What is the dialogue? Why has it caused such an outrage? Molly Gambhir brings you all the details.

Gravitas: Kathmandu bans screening of 'Adipurush'

Pokhara Metropolitan City in Nepal has joined Kathmandu Metropolis in banning the screening of Indian films following the controversy surrounding Adipurush's dialogues. The decision was announced by Pokhara Mayor Dhanraj Acharya, who directed cinema halls in the central Nepali city to stop showing Bollywood films.

Nepal: Pokhara Mayor calls for ban on 'Adipurush'

Nepal on Monday (June 19) banned all Hindi films in Kathmandu and Pokhara following a controversy over Bollywood movie Adipurush's dialogues.

Trouble mounts for 'Adipurush' in Nepal

Nepal’s Pokhara International Airport, where the ill-fated Yeti Airlines plane having onboard 72 passengers was scheduled to land but crashed minutes before, did not have a working landing guiding system&nbsp;that&nbsp;helps planes land safely on runway, an airport official has revealed.&nbsp;A landing guiding system or instrument landing system helps pilots struggling with visibility maintain visual contact with surrounding obstacles and the ground.

Jagannath Niroula, a spokesperson for Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority, told the news agency AP that the situation will remain the same until February 26—56 days after the airport began operations on January 1.

The airport was built with assistance from China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) infrastructure project. In 2016, the Nepal government had signed a $215.96 million soft loan agreement with Beijing for the construction of the airport in the tourist city.

Despite the instrument landing system remaining defunct at the time of the crash, conditions on Sunday were said to be good, with low winds&nbsp;and clear skies.

An expert opined that a lack of an instrument landing system could be a "contributory cause" of the accident and highlighted a "notoriously bad air safety culture" in Nepal.

<h2>Gravitas | Nepal air crash: Is the Nepalese government to blame?</h2>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-nepal-air-crash-is-the-nepalese-government-to-blame-553265/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

He said that pilots in Nepal encounter in-flight visibility problems as the country is surrounded by mountains.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-crash-70-confirmed-dead-as-rescuers-search-for-two-missing-passengers-553338">Nepal plane crash: 70 bodies retrieved as rescuers search for two missing passengers</a>

Though it is still not clear as to what led the plane to crash, it is believed that—based on the videos of the plane’s final moments before the crash—it went into a stall, although it is unclear why.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-plane-crash-deceased-co-pilots-husband-also-flew-same-airline-died-in-crash-16-years-ago-553191">Deceased co-pilot’s husband also flew same airline, died in crash 16 years ago</a>

“Flying in Nepal becomes challenging if you don’t have navigational aids and puts an extra workload on the pilot whenever they experience problems during a flight,” Amit Singh, an experienced pilot and founder of India’s Safety Matters Foundation, told AP news agency.

“Lack of an instrument landing system only reaffirms that Nepal’s air safety culture is not adequate.”

The twin-engine ATR 72-500 aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder and flight recorder were retrieved on Monday.

Yeti Airlines said that the plane’s cockpit voice recorder is being analysed locally, and the flight data recorder will be sent to France. Experts from France have been assisting in the probe into the crash.

(With inputs from agencies)

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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Nepal’s Pokhara International Airport, where the ill-fated Yeti Airlines plane having onboard 72 passengers was scheduled to land but crashed minutes before, did not have a working landing guiding system that helps planes land safely on runway, an airport official has revealed.

Nepal’s Pokhara International Airport, where the ill-fated Yeti Airlines plane having onboard 72 passengers was scheduled to land but crashed minutes before, did not have a working landing guiding system that helps planes land safely on runway, an airport official has revealed. A landing guiding system or instrument landing system helps pilots struggling with visibility maintain visual contact with surrounding obstacles and the ground. Jagannath Niroula, a spokesperson for Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority, told the news agency AP that the situation will remain the same until February 26—56 days after the airport began operations on January 1. The airport was built with assistance from China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) infrastructure project. In 2016, the Nepal government had signed a $215.96 million soft loan agreement with Beijing for the construction of the airport in the tourist city. Despite the instrument landing system remaining defunct at the time of the crash, conditions on Sunday were said to be good, with low winds and clear skies. An expert opined that a lack of an instrument landing system could be a "contributory cause" of the accident and highlighted a "notoriously bad air safety culture" in Nepal. Gravitas | Nepal air crash: Is the Nepalese government to blame? He said that pilots in Nepal encounter in-flight visibility problems as the country is surrounded by mountains. Also read | Nepal plane crash: 70 bodies retrieved as rescuers search for two missing passengers Though it is still not clear as to what led the plane to crash, it is believed that—based on the videos of the plane’s final moments before the crash—it went into a stall, although it is unclear why. Also Read | Deceased co-pilot’s husband also flew same airline, died in crash 16 years ago “Flying in Nepal becomes challenging if you don’t have navigational aids and puts an extra workload on the pilot whenever they experience problems during a flight,” Amit Singh, an experienced pilot and founder of India’s Safety Matters Foundation, told AP news agency. “Lack of an instrument landing system only reaffirms that Nepal’s air safety culture is not adequate.” The twin-engine ATR 72-500 aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder and flight recorder were retrieved on Monday. Yeti Airlines said that the plane’s cockpit voice recorder is being analysed locally, and the flight data recorder will be sent to France. Experts from France have been assisting in the probe into the crash. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Nepal plane crash: Pokhara airport, built with Chinese assistance, did not have landing guidance system

Anju Khatiwada, the co-pilot of Yeti Airlines plane that crashed in Nepal’s Pokhara, was seconds away from realising her dream of becoming a chief pilot. But her hopes and dreams never came to a realisation.

Minutes before landing at the Pokhara International Airport on Sunday, the ATR-72 plane carrying 72 people crashed at the forest land located on the banks of the Seti River, making it one of the worst air crashes in Nepal’s history. So far, the officials have recovered 68 bodies, while the rescue operations are on to retrieve the remaining ones.

The plane was piloted by senior Capitan Kamal KC and Anju was the co-pilot on the aircraft.

Anju joined Yeti Airlines in 2010 following the footsteps of her husband, Dipak Pokhrel, a pilot from the same airline who had died in a similar crash four years ago when a small passenger plane he was flying for the domestic carrier went down minutes before landing.

"Her husband, Dipak Pokhrel, died in 2006 in a crash of a Twin Otter plane of Yeti Airlines in Jumla," airline spokesman Sudarshan Bartaula told Reuters news agency.

<h2>Nepal Plane Crash: Aircraft's black box found from debris</h2>

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"She got her pilot training with the money she got from the insurance after her husband's death," Bartaula said.

Her husband, Dipak Pokhrel, was the co-pilot of fateful Yeti Airlines’ 9N AEQ aircraft which had crashed on June 21, 2006. Six passengers and four crew members had died in the deadly crash, Nepali Times newspaper reported.

It was on its way from Nepalganj to Jumla via Surkhet at that time.

Khatiwada, a pilot with more than 6,400 hours of flying time, earlier flown the popular tourist route from the capital, Kathmandu, to the country's second-largest city, Pokhara.

While the body of Kamal KC, the captain of the flight, has been recovered and identified, Kathiwada's remains are yet to be identified. However, she is feared dead, Bartaula said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Anju Khatiwada, the co-pilot of Yeti Airlines plane that crashed in Nepal’s Pokhara, was seconds away from realising her dream of becoming a chief pilot. But her hopes and dreams never came to a realisation.

Anju Khatiwada, the co-pilot of Yeti Airlines plane that crashed in Nepal’s Pokhara, was seconds away from realising her dream of becoming a chief pilot. But her hopes and dreams never came to a realisation. Minutes before landing at the Pokhara International Airport on Sunday, the ATR-72 plane carrying 72 people crashed at the forest land located on the banks of the Seti River, making it one of the worst air crashes in Nepal’s history. So far, the officials have recovered 68 bodies, while the rescue operations are on to retrieve the remaining ones. The plane was piloted by senior Capitan Kamal KC and Anju was the co-pilot on the aircraft. Anju joined Yeti Airlines in 2010 following the footsteps of her husband, Dipak Pokhrel, a pilot from the same airline who had died in a similar crash four years ago when a small passenger plane he was flying for the domestic carrier went down minutes before landing. "Her husband, Dipak Pokhrel, died in 2006 in a crash of a Twin Otter plane of Yeti Airlines in Jumla," airline spokesman Sudarshan Bartaula told Reuters news agency. Nepal Plane Crash: Aircraft's black box found from debris "She got her pilot training with the money she got from the insurance after her husband's death," Bartaula said. Her husband, Dipak Pokhrel, was the co-pilot of fateful Yeti Airlines’ 9N AEQ aircraft which had crashed on June 21, 2006. Six passengers and four crew members had died in the deadly crash, Nepali Times newspaper reported. It was on its way from Nepalganj to Jumla via Surkhet at that time. Khatiwada, a pilot with more than 6,400 hours of flying time, earlier flown the popular tourist route from the capital, Kathmandu, to the country's second-largest city, Pokhara. While the body of Kamal KC, the captain of the flight, has been recovered and identified, Kathiwada's remains are yet to be identified. However, she is feared dead, Bartaula said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Nepal plane crash: Deceased co-pilot’s husband also flew same airline, died in crash 16 years ago

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.

WION Fineprint | Nepal Plane Crash: At least 20 bodies have been identified so far

Nepal-based airline Buddha Air plane landed at an airport 250 miles from its intended destination due to a communications mix-up.

On December 18 Buddha Air flight from Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport had been scheduled to land at the southern city of Janakpur, but instead travelled to the city of Pokhara, about 250 miles away.

The weather was not quite favourable for the flights on Friday so carriers were making use of every available weather window to take the passengers on board as quickly as possible and take off, the report said.

Buddha Air's flight U4505 was cleared to take off for Janakpur airport in the plains.

Passengers were taken in and the plane took off, with its estimated arrival time at Janakpur by 3:15 pm. When it took off, it had already been delayed. But when it landed, it actually landed in Pokhara instead of the destination airport.

According to the preliminary report, due to weather issues, flights to Pokhara were permitted until 3 pm under the visual flight rules (VFR).

The VFR is a set of regulations under which a pilot operates an aircraft in weather conditions generally clear enough to allow the pilot to see where the aircraft is going.

"The weather was already causing flight delays and to make up for the flying time, Buddha Air officials decided to fly to Pokhara first," said an official at the airline company.

Accordingly, the flight number was changed and the mix-up happened.

Buddha Air admitted to serious lapses on its side, the report said.

Birendra Bahadur Basnet, Managing Director of the carrier, told the Post that they have formed a committee to investigate the incident.

"The difference in flight schedule between Janakpur and Pokhara was 15 to 20 minutes," said an official.

"The ground staff transferred [on paper] 69 passengers of flight U4505 to flight U4607 which actually was cleared for Pokhara by the air traffic controllers," said the official.

Everything was in the right order but the ground staff and the flight attendant failed to brief the flight's captain and co-pilot that the flight's number had been changed, according to the official.

"The flight attendant did make an announcement on the flight that it was heading to Janakpur," said the official.

"There was a miscommunication between the ground staff and the pilots," said the official.

"The flying pilots also did not look at the passengers' manifest."

Aviation experts say such incidents may happen, but they happen quite rarely.

Tri Ratna Manandhar, a former director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, said this is the second incident of such kind in Nepal's aviation history in the last two and a half-decades.

In 1993, a Twin Otter of the Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation had landed in Simara airport which was supposed to land in Bharatpur airport.

"The Buddha Air incident happened due to miscommunication. It's not part of safety lapses but it's a serious lapse on the part of management," said Manandhar.

(With inputs from agencies)

Nepal-based airline Buddha Air plane landed at an airport 250 miles from its intended destination due to a communications mix-up. On December 18 Buddha Air flight from Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport had been scheduled to land at the southern city of Janakpur, but instead travelled to the city of Pokhara, about 250 miles away.

Nepal-based airline Buddha Air plane landed at an airport 250 miles from its intended destination due to a communications mix-up. On December 18 Buddha Air flight from Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport had been scheduled to land at the southern city of Janakpur, but instead travelled to the city of Pokhara, about 250 miles away. The weather was not quite favourable for the flights on Friday so carriers were making use of every available weather window to take the passengers on board as quickly as possible and take off, the report said. Buddha Air's flight U4505 was cleared to take off for Janakpur airport in the plains. Passengers were taken in and the plane took off, with its estimated arrival time at Janakpur by 3:15 pm. When it took off, it had already been delayed. But when it landed, it actually landed in Pokhara instead of the destination airport. According to the preliminary report, due to weather issues, flights to Pokhara were permitted until 3 pm under the visual flight rules (VFR). The VFR is a set of regulations under which a pilot operates an aircraft in weather conditions generally clear enough to allow the pilot to see where the aircraft is going. "The weather was already causing flight delays and to make up for the flying time, Buddha Air officials decided to fly to Pokhara first," said an official at the airline company. Accordingly, the flight number was changed and the mix-up happened. Buddha Air admitted to serious lapses on its side, the report said. Birendra Bahadur Basnet, Managing Director of the carrier, told the Post that they have formed a committee to investigate the incident. "The difference in flight schedule between Janakpur and Pokhara was 15 to 20 minutes," said an official. "The ground staff transferred [on paper] 69 passengers of flight U4505 to flight U4607 which actually was cleared for Pokhara by the air traffic controllers," said the official. Everything was in the right order but the ground staff and the flight attendant failed to brief the flight's captain and co-pilot that the flight's number had been changed, according to the official. "The flight attendant did make an announcement on the flight that it was heading to Janakpur," said the official. "There was a miscommunication between the ground staff and the pilots," said the official. "The flying pilots also did not look at the passengers' manifest." Aviation experts say such incidents may happen, but they happen quite rarely. Tri Ratna Manandhar, a former director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, said this is the second incident of such kind in Nepal's aviation history in the last two and a half-decades. In 1993, a Twin Otter of the Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation had landed in Simara airport which was supposed to land in Bharatpur airport. "The Buddha Air incident happened due to miscommunication. It's not part of safety lapses but it's a serious lapse on the part of management," said Manandhar. (With inputs from agencies)

Headed for Janakpur, lands at Pokhara: Nepal’s Buddha Air flew passengers to wrong airport

The 13th South Asian Games are supposed to open in Kathmandu, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-hosts-tripitaka-chanting-ceremony-262799">Nepal</a> in two weeks but renovation work still remains incomplete.&nbsp;

The games are slated to be held from December 1-10.&nbsp;

The renovation of Dasarath Rangasala Stadium is incomplete with less than two weeks to go for the games, as there was a delay in the delivery of required material from China, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;

Dasarath Rangasala Stadium is supposed to host the opening ceremony as well as multiple important events.&nbsp;

Until now, chairs have not been completely installed and the VVIP block is still awaiting construction.

"The shipping of the chairs completed last night only. We are now working on the installation of chairs in the yellow block. We have the target of setting up chairs on the other side. We are working with the target of installing 1000 to 1500 chairs per day," Amar Shah, Site Engineer of Dasarath Stadium said.

This is <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/thousands-join-occupy-tundikhel-campaign-to-protect-nepals-biggest-parade-square-261020">Nepal's</a> third time playing host for the South Asian Games, and seven countries have confirmed their participation in the tournament which is set to happen in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

"South Asian Games (SAG) is set to begin from December 1. While taking a tour around the location (Dasarath Stadium), it doesn't seem to be prepared to host the games. About 30 per cent of the work seems to be remaining. But I think if the speed is increased, then the work might be completed," Bikash Neupane, a resident of Kathmandu, said.

As many as 3,250 athletes will take part in the tournament, including 648 from the host country Nepal, 521 from neighbouring India, 612 from island country Sri Lanka, and 591 from Bangladesh. Additionally, 413 athletes from Pakistan, 135 from Bhutan, and 332 from the Maldives will also take part in the tournament.

(With inputs from ANI)

The 13th South Asian Games are supposed to open in Kathmandu, Nepal in two weeks but renovation work still remains incomplete. The games are slated to be held from December 1-10.

The 13th South Asian Games are supposed to open in Kathmandu, Nepal in two weeks but renovation work still remains incomplete. The games are slated to be held from December 1-10. The renovation of Dasarath Rangasala Stadium is incomplete with less than two weeks to go for the games, as there was a delay in the delivery of required material from China, news agency ANI reported. Dasarath Rangasala Stadium is supposed to host the opening ceremony as well as multiple important events. Until now, chairs have not been completely installed and the VVIP block is still awaiting construction. "The shipping of the chairs completed last night only. We are now working on the installation of chairs in the yellow block. We have the target of setting up chairs on the other side. We are working with the target of installing 1000 to 1500 chairs per day," Amar Shah, Site Engineer of Dasarath Stadium said. This is Nepal's third time playing host for the South Asian Games, and seven countries have confirmed their participation in the tournament which is set to happen in Kathmandu and Pokhara. "South Asian Games (SAG) is set to begin from December 1. While taking a tour around the location (Dasarath Stadium), it doesn't seem to be prepared to host the games. About 30 per cent of the work seems to be remaining. But I think if the speed is increased, then the work might be completed," Bikash Neupane, a resident of Kathmandu, said. As many as 3,250 athletes will take part in the tournament, including 648 from the host country Nepal, 521 from neighbouring India, 612 from island country Sri Lanka, and 591 from Bangladesh. Additionally, 413 athletes from Pakistan, 135 from Bhutan, and 332 from the Maldives will also take part in the tournament. (With inputs from ANI)

Nepal: With two weeks to go for South Asian Games, work at main venue still underway

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