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Dear readers,

We start this week’s update on a tragic note. We are talking about the tragic Saurya plane crash at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Wednesday that killed 18 out of 19 passengers on board.

At this time of tragedy, our thoughts are with the friends and families of the deceased. We also wish for a speedy recovery of the pilot who survived the disaster.  

Wednesday’s incident at the TIA has once again highlighted concerns over Nepal’s aviation safety. Once again questions are being raised about the oversight role of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and the airlines. 

Recently, there has been an increase in technical errors, emergency landings, and other issues with domestic airlines, leading to a growing sense of insecurity among the public. People are now questioning the safety of both air and land travel, especially in light of recent plane crashes and major bus accidents.

These tragedies negatively impact Nepal’s international image and could further harm the tourism industry, which is just beginning to recover from the severe effects of Covid-19. The international community is closely monitoring these incidents as Nepal seeks permission from the European Commission for Nepali planes to fly over the European airspace.

This week, the monsoon continued to wreak havoc across the country, causing loss of lives and property. Already, monsoon rains have claimed over 130 lives and caused property damage worth billions.

Now onto politics. This week, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli secured a two-third majority in a crucial floor test at the House of Representatives. However, it remains to be seen if he can maintain this support for long. After becoming prime minister, Oli faced tough questions from lawmakers, which we covered in detail. He also made public a much-anticipated seven-point agreement reached with Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba, which has not yet been released.

Within the NC, Oli’s primary coalition partner, internal dissatisfaction is growing over the selection of ministerial candidates for provincial and federal positions. Senior leaders Shekhar Koirala and Gagan Thapa have accused Deuba of favoring his close associates. While this discontent may not escalate significantly, the NC leadership should address these concerns to prevent potential spillover effects on the coalition government. Deuba, who has total control over party structures, should be more accommodating and provide space for marginalized groups. The same goes for Prime Minister Oli; he should address intra-party concerns rather than suppressing dissenting voices.

Outside Kathmandu, following the formation of the NC-UML coalition at the center, new chief ministers are being appointed in the provinces. Provincial governments are becoming unstable due to a frequent change of guard at the Center, but our political parties seem least bothered about it.

Meanwhile, former prime minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who was ousted from power, is busy with internal party meetings, emphasizing the positive aspects of his government's tenure. He claims he was ousted after corruption scandals were uncovered and has urged party members to focus on rebuilding the party's organizational base. Since losing power, Dahal has not spoken in the Parliament.

In another story this week, a cross-party committee formed to address war-era human rights issues has made some progress, but it is unclear what top politicians think about the TRC Bill pending in Parliament. With the Maoists out of power, significant progress on the TRC seems unlikely.

On the economic front, with the new government in place, attention is on Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel to revive the country's economy. Prime Minister Oli has appointed former Finance Minister and Governor Yubaraj Khatiwada as his economic advisor, delaying the unveiling of the much-awaited monetary policy. Concerns remain about whether Poudel and Khatiwada will coordinate effectively on economic issues. The public expects good coordination between the Ministry of Finance, the Prime Minister’s Office, and Nepal Rastra Bank.

Also this week, Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba outlined the government’s foreign policy priorities. It is unclear if she is consulting with the prime minister on these matters, but she has discussed China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), stating it cannot proceed without wider government and public discussions. The BRI has been under discussion since Nepal signed the framework agreement in 2017, with the debate polarized between pro-BRI and anti-BRI forces in Kathmandu. China and Western countries are investing in narratives for and against the BRI, respectively, dividing politicians.

Another notable story this week concerned Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Indira Rana Magar. Magar faced public scrutiny after a letter surfaced in which she had written to the US Embassy in Kathmandu to facilitate the visa process for people with no official connection to her.

Some parliamentarians have accused Magar of misusing her position and trying to “traffick” people into the US, and have called for her resignation to facilitate the investigation. Magar’s party, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has defended her, stating that the letter was written last year to request the US embassy to schedule an early date for visa interviews, and that there was no ill-intention.

RSP has also claimed that their detractors are using the old letter to smear Magar and the party. However, the moral question remains, as Magar did use her official letterhead of the Deputy Speaker for her correspondence with the US embassy.

That’s all for this week. Have a great weekend!

The ongoing monsoon season and subsequent flooding in many regions of Nepal are likely to cause severe outbreaks of various water- and vector-borne diseases, including dengue. According to the latest WHO statistics, Nepal recorded over 39,360 dengue cases and 20 dengue-related deaths between January and October 2023.

In Sunsari district of Koshi province, there were 16,096 dengue cases, accounting for 40.9% of the total cases. Tanahun district in Gandaki province reported 5,050 cases, which is 12.8% of the total. As of 9 June 2024, government statistics show that approximately 1,130 dengue cases were reported in 71 districts, with Kathmandu reporting the highest number of cases (114), followed by Jhapa (111). This rapid increase has overloaded the already fragile health systems in the country, highlighting the importance of enhancing Nepal’s public health preparedness and mitigation abilities.

Challenges in Nepal’s health system

The introduction of federalism in Nepal has brought both benefits and drawbacks to the country’s health systems. While there have been improvements at the local level, several shortcomings have exposed system failures. A cross-sectional study published in the Health Research Policy and Systems journal identified major issues such as a disorganized organizational structure, delays in fund releases, uneven distribution of healthcare personnel, and inadequate monitoring and supervisory capacity. The system is not fully stabilized, and it will take time to capture the full impact of federalization. Current difficulties include a lack of coordination within and between governments, program and fund duplication, untimely fund releases, underutilized funds, staffing deficits, skill mismatches, and constant problems with medicine supplies.

Lessons from the 2022 outbreak

By the end of 2022, Nepal had 55,000 people affected by dengue, with 88 fatalities, highlighting the challenges within the healthcare system. The response was inadequate, as most hospitals were overwhelmed, and community-level measures were insufficient. The WHO report noted that the timeliness of the response was not optimal, leading to a significant increase in morbidity and mortality rates. This emphasizes the crucial need for Nepal to improve its disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness, and community engagement efforts.

Addressing the challenges

Given the current situation in Nepal and the threat of a dengue outbreak, the government and relevant health agencies must work closely to strengthen the healthcare framework. This involves improving coordination between central and local governments, ensuring timely distribution of funds, and addressing the irregular distribution of health workers. Enhancing outbreak surveillance systems, vector control efforts, and implementing widespread community awareness initiatives will help prevent the impending dengue fever outbreak.

The WHO report also noted that dengue disproportionately affects different population groups within communities. Pregnant and lactating women, children, and elderly citizens are at higher risk, while young adults engaged in outdoor work face higher exposure risks. Targeted interventions to protect these vulnerable groups are crucial. The recent incidence of dengue fever in 2023 indicates that Nepal requires a long-term and progressive commitment to reform its public health system. With the monsoon rains now affecting the nation, the challenge is to prevent an outbreak that could overwhelm the already fragile public health system.

A Saurya Airlines passenger plane crashed during takeoff at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of 18 people.

The plane, carrying two crew members and 17 others (15 of whom were airline technical staff), was en route to Pokhara for a comprehensive maintenance check known as a “C-check.” This inspection, conducted every 18-24 months or after a specific number of flight hours, involves a thorough examination of an aircraft’s systems, components, and structures, typically taking several weeks.

Among the deceased were four senior officers from Saurya Airlines: Sagar Acharya, Ashwin Niroula, Yagya Prasad Poudyal, and Dilip Verma. Also on board were Priza Khatiwada, wife of Saurya IT officer Manu Raj Sharma, and their four-year-old son, Adhiraj, who all perished in the crash.

The other victims were identified as Sushant Katuwal (co-pilot), Amit Man Maharjan, Sudip Lal Joshi, Sarbesh Marasini, Shyam Bindukar, Navaraj Ale, Rajaram Acharya, Uddhab Puri, Santosh Mahato, Punya Ratna Saahi, and Aref Reda, a Yemeni national. All were staff members of Saurya Airlines. The bodies were recovered by the afternoon and transported to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj for postmortem examinations.

Captain Manish Ratna Shakya, the pilot, was the sole survivor. He was rescued from the wreckage and rushed to a nearby hospital with injuries to his eyes but was reported to be out of danger.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the aircraft (CRJ 200, Registration: 9N-AME) took off from Tribhuvan International Airport at 11:11 am from Runway 02. Moments after takeoff, the plane veered off to the right of the runway, resulting in the crash. Eyewitness accounts and video footage on social media showed the plane catching fire upon impact.

Nepal’s aviation safety record is poor, with numerous fatal light plane and helicopter crashes over the years. The European Commission has banned all Nepali carriers from its airspace due to safety concerns. Nepal’s airports are among the most challenging in the world, with runways flanked by snow-capped peaks and difficult approaches, even for experienced pilots. Rapidly changing weather conditions in the mountains add to the hazards.

The last major commercial flight accident in Nepal occurred in Jan 2023, when a Yeti Airlines flight crashed while landing in Pokhara, killing all 72 on board. This was the deadliest accident since 1992 when a Pakistan International Airlines plane crashed near Kathmandu, killing all 167 people on board. Earlier that year, a Thai Airways flight also crashed near the same airport, killing 113 people.

In 2019, a US-Bangla Airlines flight from Bangladesh crashed at Tribhuvan airport, killing 51 people while 20 survived. An investigation confirmed that the plane was misaligned with the runway and its pilot was disoriented when the plane crashed.

In 2015, a Turkish Airlines jet skidded off a slippery runway while landing in dense fog at Tribhuvan International Airport. The plane was carrying 238 people, but there were no serious injuries.

The government has formed a five-member probe committee to investigate the crash. An emergency Cabinet meeting on Wednesday evening established the committee, led by former Director General of CAAN, Ratish Chandra Lal Suman. The committee includes Deepu Raj Jwarchan, operation director of Nepal Airlines Corporation; Sudip Bhattarai, head of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at IOE, Pulchowk; Sanjay Adhikari, board member of Shree Airlines; and Mukesh Dangol, member secretary at Air Traffic Control, CAAN. The committee has been tasked with investigating the crash and submitting its report within 45 days.

The government also declared a day of mourning on Thursday and ordered the national flag to be flown at half-mast.

The Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) has said that it would take three days to conduct the postmortem of those killed in the Saurya Airlines plane crash in Kathmandu.

The bodies were taken to the Maharajgunj-based TUTH following the crash at the Tribhuvan International Teaching Hospital on Wednesday.

According to Executive Director of the hospital Dr Dinesh Kafle, the hospital’s manpower is in a ready position to conduct the autopsy.

Kafle said that the postmortem will start soon after the relatives of the deceased come to the hospital and identify the bodies.

Police spokesperson Dan Bahadur Karki said that some of the bodies are recognizable and some are not.

Dr Kafle informed that the bodies will be handed over to the families after examining the teeth and DNA of the bodies.

Kathmandu Valley Police Office spokesperson Dinesh Raj Mainali said: “The hospital administration will perform the autopsy after police prepare necessary documents.”

A Saurya Airlines passenger plane crashed during takeoff at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of 18 people.

The plane, carrying two crew members and 17 others (15 of whom were airline technical staff), was en route to Pokhara for a comprehensive maintenance check known as a “C-check.” This inspection, conducted every 18-24 months or after a specific number of flight hours, involves a thorough examination of an aircraft’s systems, components, and structures, typically taking several weeks.

Among the deceased were four senior officers from Saurya Airlines: Sagar Acharya, Ashwin Niroula, Yagya Prasad Poudyal, and Dilip Verma. Also on board were Priza Khatiwada, wife of Saurya IT officer Manu Raj Sharma, and their four-year-old son, Adhiraj, who all perished in the crash.

The other victims were identified as Sushant Katuwal (co-pilot), Amit Man Maharjan, Sudip Lal Joshi, Sarbesh Marasini, Shyam Bindukar, Navaraj Ale, Rajaram Acharya, Uddhab Puri, Santosh Mahato, Punya Ratna Saahi, and Aref Reda, a Yemeni national. All were staff members of Saurya Airlines. The bodies were recovered by the afternoon and transported to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj for postmortem examinations.

Captain Manish Ratna Shakya, the pilot, was the sole survivor. He was rescued from the wreckage and rushed to a nearby hospital with injuries to his eyes but was reported to be out of danger.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the aircraft (CRJ 200, Registration: 9N-AME) took off from Tribhuvan International Airport at 11:11 am from Runway 02. Moments after takeoff, the plane veered off to the right of the runway, resulting in the crash. Eyewitness accounts and video footage on social media showed the plane catching fire upon impact.