According to media reports, at least 16 bodies have been recovered from the wreckage.

There were 68 passengers and four crew members on board the plane that crashed between the old and new airports in the city located in central Nepal.

The twin-engine ATR 72 aircraft operated by Yeti Airlines was en route from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

The plane caught fire the moment it crashed and rescue workers were trying to put it off, a local official was quoted as saying.

Relief and rescue operations started soon after.