At least 27 Indian nationals lost their lives, and another 16 were injured after a bus carrying tourists veered off a Nepali highway and plunged into a river on Friday. The victims, primarily from Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district, were part of a pilgrimage group when their bus went off the road and into the fast-flowing Marsyangdi River.
“We are deeply pained by the tragic death of 27 Indian nationals in a road accident in Tanahun district of Nepal. We convey our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased,” stated the Ministry of External Affairs on X.
The ministry further confirmed that 16 others were injured in the accident and were airlifted to Kathmandu for medical treatment.
The bus, which was traveling from Pokhara to Kathmandu, was carrying 43 passengers when the incident occurred. Nepalese authorities, along with local rescue teams, faced significant difficulties as they battled the strong river currents to save survivors and recover the bodies of those who had died.
The Maharashtra government identified 16 of the deceased from Jalgaon. Among those reported dead were Ramjeet alias Munna, Sarla Rane (42), Bharti Jawade (62), Tulshiram Tawade (62), Sarla Tawade (62), Sandeep Sarode (45), Pallavi Sarode (43), Anup Sarode (22), Ganesh Bharambe (40), Nilima Dhande (57), Pankaj Bhangade (45), Pari Bharambe (8 years), Anita Patil, Vijaya Jhawade (50), Rohini Jhawade (51), and Prakash Kodi.
The Indian Embassy has established emergency helplines to facilitate communication and support for those affected.
“They are in constant touch with local authorities and the affected families, making arrangements for the early transportation of the mortal remains to India. The Embassy will provide regular updates on the matter,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
Friday’s accident is the latest in a string of fatal road incidents in Nepal. Just a month earlier, two buses carrying 59 passengers were swept into a river by a landslide in Chitwan district. While three people survived that incident, authorities have since recovered 20 bodies, with the search ongoing for the two buses and the remaining missing passengers, according to AFP.
Road travel in Nepal becomes more dangerous during the monsoon season, as heavy rains trigger landslides and floods throughout the mountainous region.
