At least 27 Indians were killed and several others injured when a passenger bus plunged into a river in Nepal today. The Indian-registered bus, carrying about 40 passengers, plunged into the Marsyangdi River in the Tanahun district, some 110 kilometers from its destination in the capital Kathmandu.
"Out of 43, in total 27 people have died," Tanahun district official Janardan Gautam told AFP.
Rescuers struggled against the raging Marsyangdi River to pull passengers out of the water. Another 16 injured passengers were airlifted by military helicopter to Kathmandu for treatment.
Authorities said that all the people who boarded the bus were Indians who had stayed in Pokhara the night before and were heading to Kathmandu.
"The bus bearing number plate UP (Uttar Pradesh) FT 7623 plunged into the river and is lying on the bank of the river," a senior police official told the news agency ANI.
#WATCH | Nepal: An Indian passenger bus with 40 people onboard has plunged into the Marsyangdi river in Tanahun district. The bus was en route to Kathmandu from Pokhara. Search and rescue operations underway by the Nepal Army at the incident site.
(Video Source: News Agency… pic.twitter.com/txxO43O4CV— ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2024
Relief and rescue operations are underway.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief at the loss of lives and said the Indian Embassy is providing all possible assistance to those affected.
Saddened by the loss of lives due to a road mishap in Tanahun district, Nepal. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy is providing all possible assistance to those affected.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 23, 2024
Last month, a devastating landslide in Nepal's Chitwan district swept away two buses into the Trishuli River, killing at least five Indians.
The landslide occurred on July 12 in the Simaltal area along the Narayanghat-Mugling road in Chitwan district when two buses carrying 65 passengers, including seven Indians, were swept away following heavy rainfall. Three people swam to safety soon after the incident.
The bodies of five Indian nationals have been recovered so far while two are still missing.
The search teams have so far found 25 bodies in the Narayani riverbanks and the Triveni Dam area, approximately 103 kilometers downstream from the incident site. However, only 19 bodies found downstream have been confirmed to be of those missing in the incident.
