Relatives of victims likely to receive body from Saturday 

KATHMANDU, July 26: The Saurya Airlines crash, coming on the heels of a recent bus accident on the Narayanghat-Mugling road section, has sparked widespread concern about the safety of both air and land travel in Nepal. Two weeks ago, two passenger buses fell into the Trishuli River following a landslide, leaving several passengers missing. These incidents have cast a shadow over the country's transport infrastructure, raising questions about the adequacy of safety measures.

Gopi Bhattarai, former president of the Pokhara Tourism Council (PTC), noted a sharp decline in Indian tourists following the bus accident. "The connectivity of Nepal's transport sector is now perceived as very unsafe," Bhattarai said. The swift dissemination of these incidents on social media has exacerbated the issue, with potential tourists being immediately alerted to safety concerns.

Bharat Raj Parajuli, a central member of the Hotel Association of Nepal, echoed these concerns, pointing to a noticeable drop in domestic tourism as well. "The repeated accidents have sent a message of insecurity across both land and air travel," Parajuli said. The sentiment was shared by Hari Adhikari, president of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Natta) Gandaki, who noted a heightened fear among travelers.

Pom Narayan Shrestha, president of PTC, highlighted the broader implications for Nepal's tourism industry. "The recent events have severely affected trust in the country's transport infrastructure," Shrestha said. He stressed the need for all stakeholders, including the government and private sector, to work together to restore confidence and convey a positive message about travel safety in Nepal.

Blame game 

The crash has not only raised questions about the safety of Nepal's aviation sector but also highlighted issues within the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). In a parliamentary session, lawmakers questioned CAAN Director General Pradeep Adhikari about the increase in aviation accidents under his tenure. Adhikari, citing the ongoing investigation, refrained from commenting on the specifics of the accidents. The session also witnessed a dispute between former tourism minister Sudan Kirati and committee chairman Rajkishore Yadav, which led to Kirati boycotting the meeting.This discord has been cited as a contributing factor to the inefficiencies and lapses in the regulatory oversight of the aviation sector.

Challenges in identifying bodies

As the nation comes to terms with the tragic Saurya Airlines plane crash, doctors involved in the post-mortem of the victims have said that the bodies will be handed to the families only after proper identification.

The autopsies of 18 out of 19 people on board the ill-fated aircraft are being conducted at the TU Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj.

The hospital reported that the extensive damage has made identification challenging as the Pokhara-bound aircraft burst into flames after hitting the ground soon after takeoff on Wednesday.

“Some of the bodies are burnt and difficult to identify,” said Professor Doctor Dinesh Kafle, director of Maharajgunj-based TU Teaching Hospital, adding that the charred bodies require DNA tests.

Dr Kafle made it clear that the bodies will be handed over to the families only after completing all the required processes, which might take at least a few days.

“We cannot hand over the bodies without identifying the victims,” said Dr Kafle.

Doctors at the hospital are currently busy conducting the post-mortem of the bodies. Dr Kafle said they have already examined 12 bodies and are examining three more bodies by the time this news was prepared.

“If it is not possible to identify the victims, it will take two weeks to get the results of the DNA tests. Otherwise, all the dead bodies can be examined by tomorrow (Friday) evening. After the process is completed, we can hand over the bodies to the relatives from Saturday,” he said

He informed that the experts are working sensitively and the bodies will be handed over as soon as possible after the process is completed.

Meanwhile, the families of the victims have refused to claim the bodies until they are provided compensation. 

Insurance and compensation: Relief efforts underway

In the wake of the crash, the airliner has initiated the process to provide financial relief to the families of the crash victims. Prabhu Insurance, the insurer of the Saurya Airlines aircraft, has confirmed a compensation package for the victims' families. Each family is entitled to an insurance payout of $20,000, approximately Rs 2,684,200 at the current exchange rate. The aircraft itself was insured for Rs 300 million, with the majority of the liability covered by a British reinsurance company. Prabhu Insurance will bear only a fraction of the cost, amounting to Rs 900,000, with the reinsurance company covering the remaining liability.

This financial relief is crucial in supporting the victims' families, although it does little to alleviate the emotional toll of the tragedy. The government has also established a five-member probe commission led by Ratish Chandra Lal Suman, former director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), to investigate the incident. The commission is tasked with submitting its findings and recommendations within 45 days to prevent similar occurrences in the future.