Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) whether a number of Indian pilgrims on their way to a pilgrimage centre in Nepal killed in a plane crash recently;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has provided any assistance to the pilgrims who got injured or to the next of the kin of those who lost their lives in the said mishap; and

(d) if so, the details thereof, and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER: THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI PRENEET KAUR)

(a) & (b) In an unfortunate incident on 14 May 2012, an Agni Air flight carrying 16 Indian nationals and heading for pilgrimage at Muktinath crashed near Jomsom in Nepal. Out of the 16 Indian nationals on board, 13 people were killed.

(c) & (d) Immediately on hearing the news of the tragedy, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu opened a Control Room for enquiries. Embassy of India maintained close contact with Nepalese authorities for expeditious search and relief operations at the site of the crash. The Embassy facilitated the treatment of the 3 injured Indians and also arranged to bring back the mortal remains of the 13 deceased to India, while assisting the next of kin in this regard.

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