Kathmandu, February 27

The government today decided to mark a national day of mourning tomorrow for Dynasty Air helicopter crash victims. Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and six other persons were killed today when the helicopter they were travelling on crashed in Taplejung district.

The decision to mark a national mourning day tomorrow was taken by an emergency meeting of the Cabinet held this evening at Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s official residence in Baluwatar. The government has decided to close all government offices, public offices, educational institutions and Nepali diplomatic missions abroad tomorrow.

The government also decided to fly national flags in government offices at half mast to mourn the death of the crash victims.

Minister of Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa told mediapersons that the victims of the crash would be laid to rest with national honour and the government would make all arrangements for the same.

The government also formed a four-member probe panel-led by former Tourism Secretary Yagya Prasad Gautam to probe into the chopper crash. Other members of the panel Dipak Prasad Bastola (Nepal Army) Captain Pramod Lama, Buddhi Sagar  Lamichhane (Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil  Aviation).

Minister Thapa said the country suffered an irreparable loss due to unprecedented and unimaginable incident that caused the death of Minister Adhikari and other passengers of the ill-fated helicopter. “The government condoles the death of the crash victims and offers its deepest condolence to the families of the victims.

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