Almost all newspapers published in Kathmandu on Tuesday have given priority to reports related to the US Bangla Airlines Bombardier crash in Kathmandu. At least 49 people have lost their lives in the crash. The day’s papers have reported on various facets of the crash. Similarly, other political, social and economic issues have also made it to the front pages. Here’s a round-up of the major stories in the press on Tuesday:
Important
US Bangla crash toll reaches 49
The Kathmandu Post says 71 people, including a three-member crew, were on board the US Banla Airlines Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft which crashed at 14:18 hrs in Kathmandu. The paper says that 22 people, including 11 Nepalis, survived the crash. It says that this is the third deadliest crash in Nepal since the twin aviation disasters in Nepal in 1992 when two airliners crashed near Kathmandu on different dates. The report says that the government has formed a commission to probe into the incident. The same report quotes US Bangla CEO Imran Asif as saying to the BBC that the air traffic control was at fault in the incident.
Annapurna Post says that of the 49 who died in the incident, 22 were Nepali, 21 Bangladeshi, one Chinese and one Maldivian. Rajdhani quotes TIA Managing Director Rajendra Kumar Chhetri as saying that the crash happened because the pilot could not align the plane with the runway and after touchdown, the plan skidded out of control. Republica says most of the Nepali passengers were students returning home on vacation and staffers of various travel agencies in Kathmandu.
The Himalayan Times has published a report highlighting the plight of a survivor of the crash. Bangladeshi citizen Shahreen Ahmed (29) was one of the passengers on the flight. “When the aircraft was about to land it started turning left. People started shouting. We looked back and saw that the aircraft was on fire..People were burning, shouting and falling down,” the paper quotes her as saying.
Ignored
Bar Association condemns Justice Rana’ actions
The Himalayan Times reports that the Nepal Bar Association has condemned Justice Cholendra Shamsher Rana’s decision to boycott the extended full bench assigned to hear a contempt of court case against Kantipur publications.The paper says that the association has said Rana’s accusation that CJ Parajuli had forged his education documents were false and his action amounts to an attack on the judiciary.
Interesting
Municipality to provide cash incentive to couples to bear more children
Karobar reports that at a time when the government is trying to encourage couples to have only two children, a municipality in eastern Nepal has decided to provide cash incentives to couple to have more children. It says that Ilam Municipality wants to upgrade to a ‘Sub-Metropolitan’ status, but does not have the population to do so. According to the paper, the municipality plans to give Rs 2,000 to couples who give birth to their second child, 3,000 to a third child and 4,000 to four children. Similarly, couples who give birth to more than five children will be given Rs 5,000.
