KATHMANDU: Last week, a tragic plane crash involving Saurya Airlines at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu claimed 18 lives out of 19 onboard.
In response, the government initiated a thorough investigation and mandated safety inspections for domestic airlines.
Concurrently, there were significant political and administrative changes, including new appointments of Chief Ministers in Lumbini and Bagmati Provinces, and Liladevi Gadtaula as the first female Chief Secretary of Nepal.
The Nepal Rastra Bank unveiled a new flexible monetary policy, while a special polio vaccination drive was launched in response to a discovered poliovirus.
Additionally, the Nepal Electricity Authority restored power to six industries with outstanding tariffs.
A plane belonging to Saurya Airlines crashed at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Wednesday morning, igniting into flames.
Additionally, the government launched a special vaccination drive against polio in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur districts, spanning three days.
The crash occurred as the plane was departing from Kathmandu to Pokhara.
Eighteen out of the 19 people aboard the ill-fated Saurya Airlines flight died in the crash, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).
In response to the tragedy, the government decided to fly the national flag at half-mast on Thursday to honor the victims.
Additionally, a 5-member commission led by Ratish Chandra Lal Suman, former Director General of CAAN, was formed to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
The commission, chaired by Suman, has been given a mandate to deliver its findings within 45 days, accompanied by recommendations aimed at preventing future tragedies.
To enhance aviation safety measures, all domestic airlines have committed to mandatory ship inspections.
In another significant development, Chet Narayan Acharya was appointed as the Chief Minister of Lumbini Province by Province Chief Amik Sherchan on Monday under Article 168 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal.
This appointment follows the resignation of Chief Minister Jokh Bahadur Mahara on Sunday.
Additionally, Bahadur Singh Lama was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bagmati Province last week.
In further governmental changes, Liladevi Gadtaula was appointed as the Chief Secretary during a Cabinet meeting held earlier in the week.
Gadtaula’s appointment is historic as she becomes the first female Chief Secretary in Nepal’s history.
She previously served as Acting Chief Secretary under the government led by CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
Moreover, the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) unveiled the monetary policy for the current fiscal year 2081-82 on Friday.
The decision to reconnect power was made following a Board of Directors’ meeting chaired by Minister of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka.
The policy announcement followed a meeting of the NRB’s Board of Directors earlier that morning, with Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari presenting the new policy during an event at Baluwatar.
The policy is designed to be flexible, considering the government’s budget program and the 16th development plan.
Additionally, the government launched a special vaccination drive against polio in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur districts, spanning three days.
This initiative followed the discovery of a modified poliovirus (Vaccine Derived Polio Virus Type 3) in Kathmandu’s water sources, prompting the Ministry of Health and Population to initiate a targeted vaccination effort from Wednesday to Friday last week.
In another development, the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) reinstated electricity lines to six industries that had outstanding electricity tariffs.
The decision to reconnect power was made following a Board of Directors’ meeting chaired by Minister of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka.
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