Nepal's sky not safe: Minister Gurung

KATHMANDU, Aug 08: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, has said frequent air crashes in Nepal indicate that the sky here is not safe. 

Talking to the media here today in the course of unveiling the decisions of the recent Council of Ministers, the government Spokesperson pledged to work in a planned way to find out the root causes of such incidents and address the situation. 

He said a series of air crashes has affected the tourism sector negatively, adding the situation is capable of tarnishing Nepal's image internationally. 

He said the Council of Ministers held on August 7 agreed to form an investigation commission over the Nuwakot chopper crash.  

A helicopter with the call sign 9N-AJD belonging to the Air Dynasty Heli Service Pvt Ltd crashed at Suryachaur of Shivapuri rural municipality in Nuwakot district on Wednesday. 

The government spokesperson said that the government has decided to form a three-member investigation commission under the convenorship of senior pilot Subas Thapa of the Nepali Army to carry out investigation into the accident and to submit a report with recommendations within 30 days from the date of starting its works. 

According to him, the occurrence of air accidents frequently indicates that our sky is not safe.  Minister Gurung extended condolence over the death of four Chinese citizens and one Nepali citizen in the chopper accident. 

"So far the government has been confined only to forming investigation commission to prove such accidents. Now, the government is holding discussion to find a solution with reason," he said. 

The government spokesperson asserted that works would be carried out to figure out where lies the problem – the government's policy or management or technology or the sky – and to find a solution to this problem.