The government has decided to observe Wednesday as a day of national mourning and announced a public holiday in memory of the late state Minister for Forest Gopal Rai and 23 other conservation experts who lost their lives in the tragic helicopter crash in Taplejung.

Noted nature conservationists, senior officials of the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation and Kathmandu-based foreign missions were killed when an ill-fated Sri Airlines 91-AHJ-MI-172 helicopter crashed at Gyabla, some 2km south of Ghunsa on Saturday.

Tuesday’s meeting of the council of ministers held at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar took the decision to this effect.

Similarly, the national flag at all government offices, diplomatic offices and diplomatic missions abroad will fly at half-mast on Wednesday.

The government has decided to administer funeral rites of State Minister Rai, who was killed in the incident befitting a Minister of the nation.

The meeting also passed the mourning proposal for RPP sitting parliamentarian Krishna Sharan Shrestha, who was shoot dead by the Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha, a breakaway faction of the Maoists on Saturday in Siraha.

According to Minister for State for Information and Communications, Dilendra Prasad Badu, who is also the government’s spokesperson, the meeting also discussed the issue of strengthening the overall security situation of the country.