The plane crash in Nepal's Pokhara has made the Alawalpur Afga village of Ghazipur inconsolable, as among the five Indians who were killed in the Yeti Airlines aircraft crash on Sunday, four were residents of this UP district.
The deceased are identified as Abhishek Kushwaha, Vishal Sharma, Sonu and Anil Rajbhar. All of them were between 22 to 27 years of age group and were running different businesses here. Their family members are in a state of distress.
Chandra Maurya, the father of the late Kushwaha, said he was the only earning member of the family. The deceased used to run a public service centre.
Kushwaha's brother Abhinesh, said, "I am in a daze; I don't know what we will do now. After listening to the news about his death, my father and mother are in a very bad condition."
The same is the situation at Vishal Sharma's house where villagers have gathered to share their grief while his elder brother and father are in a state of shock.
His friends said that they could not believe that Sharma was no more among them.
One of his friends said that when the plane was about to land, he was liking his friend's photograph on Facebook, and Sharma was in a live chat with his friends.
The whole district is inconsolable and the local shopkeepers have not opened their shops today.
"In this hour of grief, the entire region stands with the deceased's family," a shopowner said.
At least 68 people were killed when the Yeti Airlines passenger plane with 72 people on board, including five Indians, crashed into a river gorge while landing at the newly-opened airport in the central resort city of Pokhara, Nepal.
The Nepal government has declared a national holiday today to mourn the deaths of the people killed in the crash.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief and prayed for the bereaved families of the Nepal plane crash.
"Pained by the tragic air crash in Nepal in which precious lives have been lost, including Indian nationals. In this hour of grief, my thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families," PM Modi tweeted.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has also expressed grief over the incident and extended his condolences to the victims.
(with inputs from ANI)
