A memorial event was held today in Bhaktapur to honor the victims of the tragic Saurya Airlines crash that occurred on Shrawan 9 in Kathmandu. The event, organized by the Manuraj, Adhiraj, and Prija Memorial Society, marked the 45th day since the accident and included a tribute to the 18 lives lost in the crash.
Former President Bidhya Devi Bhandari attended the ceremony, held at Kathmandu School of Law, Dadhikot, Bhaktapur, where she paid tribute by garlanding the photographs of the deceased. In her speech, Bhandari expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident and stressed the need for a thorough investigation to prevent such accidents in the future. She emphasized that investigation reports should not be shelved, and concrete actions must be taken to resolve the issues that lead to such tragedies.
Bhandari also called for experts to work on identifying the causes of air crashes and take steps to ensure no more accidents occur.
The event also featured remarks from Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, who highlighted the need for a comprehensive, high-level investigation into all past aviation accidents. He proposed consolidating the findings of previous studies to guide future efforts. Pandey also called for the establishment of a robust insurance law to ensure that victims’ families receive appropriate compensation.
Former Attorney General and Founder of Kathmandu School of Law, Senior Advocate Dr. Yubraj Sangroula, gave a presentation on aviation safety in Nepal, which was followed by commentary from Pilot Binod Puri and Advocate Swagat Nepal.
During the event, Rajendra Prasad Pandey, former Chief Minister of Bagmati Province and Senior Vice President of CPN (Unified Socialist), emphasized the need for the state to take aviation safety more seriously.
The program was organized in collaboration with Kathmandu School of Law, Bhaktapur, and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation. Prakash Khatiwada, President of the Memorial Society, announced plans to establish an endowment fund that will provide scholarships and awards in the future.
