Kathmandu, September 26:

The loss of precious lives in the helicopter crash in Taplejung on Saturday should go down in history as the most horrendous in recent times. The death of some of the leading personalities in the field of nature conservation is indeed an irreparable loss.

At the top, of course, is none other than Dr Harka Gurung. A trained geographer-turned-conservationist and someone who often defied the mighty, Dr Gurung’s loss is irreparable.

Then there is the Minister of State for Forest and Soil Conservation (MOF&SC), Gopal Rai — a budding politician — who had a brilliant career ahead. Tipped to inherit the legacy of his uncle Bal Bahadur Rai, Gopal missed a lot more. Some of the dead had fabled life to lead. Consider Mingma Sherpa, who was with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) US. For someone with roots in Solukhumbu, becoming a part of the WWF was a dream come true.

One also cannot forget Dr Chandra Prasad Gurung, the WWF Nepal Country Representative. One wonders who would follow in his footsteps now that he is no more. While 18 persons among the dead are verily “who’s who” in the conservation front, others were very important persons in their own right.

Among those on board the ill-fated chopper was one person who had retired from active service but was considered “useful” — Tirtha Man Maskey, who actively guided the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNP&WC) to its current reckoning. Then there was Dr Damodar Prasad Parajuli who, it is widely said, was a bureaucrat with “a heart.” Many will certainly miss him. Ditto in the case of Sharad Rai, Director-General of Department of Forest (DOF) and Narayan Paudel, Director-General of DNP&WC.

Others caught in the wrong flight were Margaret Alexander of USAID; Dr Jill Bowling, Conservation Director of WWF-UK; Jennifer Headly, Regional Coordinator of Eastern Himalayas WWF-UK and Matthew Preece of WWF-US.

Even journos ended up being a part of news themselves. Tribute goes to fellow scribes Hem Raj Bhandari and Sunil Singh of NTV who never returned from their assignment. Sympathies go to their families.

Also, no none can forget the Finnish Charge d’ Affaires, Pauli Mustonen, who was a darling of journalists covering foreign affairs. Were some among the dead reluctant to fly out there? Well the word from WWF Nepal office is: “The best persons to answer the question would be those on board the chopper.”

Condolence book

KATHMANDU: The Finnish embassy will maintain a register for those wishing to offer condolences on the death of its charge d’affaires, Pauli Mustonen, who died in the helicopter crash at Phale, Taplejung district, on September 23.

Condolence messages can be written on the book on September 27 and 28 between 9 am to 4 pm, the embassy has said. — HNS

Events deferred

KATHMANDU: The embassy of China has postponed its reception and dinner, which was to be hosted on the occasion of the country’s 57th foundation day on Wednesday, to mourn the death of the Minister of State for Forest and Soil Conservation, Gopal Rai.

It will now be held on October 1. The time and venue for the reception remain unchanged, the embassy said. A reception to be held by the American Centre on Wednesday has also been postponed.— HNS