M A I N   N E W S

Health Minister stranded in Kathmandu
From Tripti Nath
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Aug 24 — Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr C.P. Thakur, is among 175 passengers held up in Kathmandu due to a technical problem in Airbus 300 (IC-814).

The Health Minister was scheduled to return at 4.10 pm on Thursday.

Sources in Indian Airlines confirmed that the aircraft was grounded at Kathmandu due to some technical problem. It is learnt that a couple of minutes after take-off from Tribhuvan airport, the aircraft developed landing gear retraction. This kind of technical snag affects the speed of the aircraft.

Sources in Indian Airlines said the aircraft took off at 2.30 pm and had to return to the airport after it developed a technical snag.

Sources said the stranded passengers would be accommodated in the Royal Nepal Airlines flight subject to availability of seats. The RNA aircraft is scheduled to land at 9 pm. Other passengers will be accommodated in the next RNA aircraft on Friday morning.

Sources close to the Minister’s family said he left for Kathmandu by an Indian Airlines flight on Tuesday. He had gone there to attend a conference.