STATEMENT BY PHASE NEPAL ON THE DEMISE OF NISHA TAMANG
8th August 2016
On behalf of the entire PHASE team, we are expressing our deepest sympathy and condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Nisha Tamang who tragically passed away on the 8th August 2016 in a helicopter crash in Madhanpur-9, Pakhure, Nuwakot district.
Nisha was accompanying a young mother with a serious postpartum infection and her 5 day old baby, who had a fever, with three members of their family, from her work station in Filim, Health Post Sirdibas VDC (Gorkha district) to a hospital in Kathmandu.
Nisha was a very well liked, respected and skilled member of the PHASE Nepal team. After working as a nursing tutor, she had joined PHASE in February 2016 and had been based in Gorkha, supporting health projects in Chumchet, Chhekampar and Sirdibas. She was committed to improving health in rural communities, demonstrated by her desire to serve patients in remote areas.
The PHASE Nepal management team are working to support Nisha’s family and her colleagues at this difficult time. This tragedy reminds us of the extreme commitment of PHASE staff serving in the most remote regions across Nepal. PHASE Nepal takes the safety of our staff very seriously. It appears this was a tragic accident. The helicopter pilot, Ranjan Limbu, who had worked with our team in many flight missions during the earthquake relief, also perished in the accident, together with the young mother, Preeti Gurung, her 5 day old son, her parents in law and another young relative, Laxmi Gurung.
Nisha is mourned by her father, mother and younger brother with their wider families.
The whole PHASE Nepal team joins them in their grief. Our thoughts and our hearts are with them and with the families of the other victims at this tragic time.
Jiban Karki, Executive Director, PHASE Nepal