Nepalis killed in Afghan chopper crash identified

Four Nepalis who were killed in a helicopter crash in NATO's base in Afghanistan on Sunday have been identified. According to reports, Janak Pokharel and Bishnu Malla of Pokhara and Navaraj Khadka and Sunil Lamichane of Hetauda were killed when the helicopter burst into flames shortly after take off. The report, however, didn't mention their ages. Two other Nepalis who managed to jump off before the chopper crashed have been identified as Ramesh G.C, 25, of Malepatan, Pokhara-5 and Abhisekh Adhikari, 23, of Syangja district. They were later admitted to a local hospital for minor injuries and are said to be doing well.

The six Nepali had reached war-torn Afghanistan just 4 days ago to work for Supreme Groups, a multinational company which offers food supplies and other logistics for US military and other multinational forces based in Afghanistan. The company is known for providing these kinds of services in very hostile environments. The four Nepalis were among the 16 killed in the chopper crash in the hostile Kandahar region. The helicopter was ferrying the Nepalis along with civilian contractors and supplies to a military outpost.

Thousands of Nepalis have flown to Afghanistan in search of work, often paying hefty amounts to agents back home, despite a government ban on the country as a working destination for Nepalis. Hundreds of Nepalis men are said to be literally living in the streets of the country's capital Kabul after not being able to find any jobs. This has raised deep concern for their security in a very hostile country which sees regular abduction of foreigners and targeted bombings.