Ashish Ranjit, a travel agency operator in Balaju is one of the survivors of the plane crash that occurred in Tribhuvan International Airport on Monday afternoon.

“I am lucky,” said Ranjit from the general ward of the Thapathali based Norvic International Hospital. He was surrounded by his relatives and well-wishers, some hugging each other and others thanking God for saving him.

Well-wishers crowded the hospital where medical staff is treating five survivors.

“I was shattered when I heard the news of plane crash, but now I have no words to express the relief,” said Ranjit’s brother who was standing near him and visibly emotional.

Ranjit, along with 12 travel agency operators from various Nepal travel agencies were returning to Kathmandu on US-Bangla airlines plane after attending an awards ceremony in Dhaka. Namaste Aviation Travel had invited the best operating travel agencies to Bangladesh.

According to John Shrestha operator of Spy Mart Travel Agency, who had reached to KMC Hospital in Sinamangal on Monday, three travel operators Sajana Devkota, Harisankar Paudel and Prabin Chitrakar are among the dead.

 Among the injured, six of them are undergoing treatment at KMC hospital, while three of them are admitted to the Dhapasi-based Grande International Hospital, and two in the Norvic.    

“Before the incident, I could sense the danger, the plane was wobbling horribly. I was scared and called an air-hostess. She told me not to worry in sign language from her seat that faced passengers. All of sudden the speed of the plane increased so fast, suddenly I heard the loud sound,” said Ranjit, who has injuries on his right hand, head and legs. His blue shirt was stained with blood.

If he had not got back his consciousness instantly he would have burn along with the plane. “When my eyes were open, the plane had already started to burn, people were crying and some had gone unconscious. I unfastened the seat belt, and some of my friends were conscious, together we jumped from the plane and saved ourselves,” said Ranjit.

He said it was god’s will. “If it was not god, I would have died along with other people,” said Ranjit.    

As told to The Post by Ranjit, he was in the third row on the right side of the plane, “I think passengers on the left side of the plane were badly injured, because it was the left part that knocked the floor,” said Ranjit.

Meanwhile, another survivor Basanta Bohora, an employee of Raswita International Travels and Tours said, he came out breaking the window. “I don’t remember how I came out of the plane. I was dizzy. I gained my full consciousness only after I was brought to KMC hospital in Sinamangal.”  He has injuries in his head, legs. “ I feel I am the luckiest. I survived,” said Bohora, who was transferred to Norvic Hospital in the request of his relatives.  Doctor at the hospital said, he is out of danger.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Anuradha Koirala, Province 3 Chief, Minister for Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa on Monday had reached to KMC Hospital. PM Oli also expressed his sadness over the tragic incident; he expressed his condolences to the families of those killed in the plane crash.