An aircraft carrying 72 people crashed in western Pokhara in Nepal Pokhara on Sunday, an airport official said.
An aviation authority official told Reuters that at least 40 people died in the horrific crash.
The Civil Aviation Authority in Nepal has released a statement with a more conservative number. It says that at least 29 passengers have passed away – 18 men, 10 women, and one child.
The Indian Embassy in Nepal confirmed that five Indians were onboard the plane. Their condition is not known yet.
There were 72 people on the twin-engine ATR 72 aircraft operated by Nepal’s Yeti Airlines, including two infants, four crew members and 10 foreign nationals, said airline spokesman Sudarshan Bartaula.
Local television showed thick black smoke billowing from the crash site as rescue workers and crowds of people gathered around the wreckage of the aircraft.
Air accidents are not uncommon in Nepal, home to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains, including Everest, as the weather can change suddenly and make for hazardous conditions.
