Nepal Bus Crash: IAF to Fly Back Bodies of 16 Maharashtra Pilgrims

New Delhi: In a heartbreaking incident in Nepal, a bus carrying Indian pilgrims from Maharashtra plunged off a highway into the Marsyangdi river, leading to the deaths of at least 27 individuals. The victims, mainly from Jalgaon district in Maharashtra, were part of a group of 104 pilgrims on a 10-day tour of Nepal. The accident occurred as the bus was en route from Pokhara to Kathmandu, with 43 passengers onboard.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is preparing to repatriate the bodies of the deceased back to Maharashtra. Meanwhile, 16 injured survivors were airlifted to Kathmandu and admitted to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for treatment. According to Shailendra Thapa, Deputy Spokesperson of the Armed Police Force (APF), 16 people died at the scene, while 11 others succumbed to their injuries during medical care.

The Ministry of External Affairs expressed profound sadness over the tragedy, extending heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families. “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,” the ministry stated in a message on X (formerly Twitter).

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also conveyed his condolences on X, recognizing the seriousness of the incident. Former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse mentioned that the pilgrims had traveled to Nepal after visiting Ayodhya four days earlier.

Rescue operations in Nepal faced significant challenges as local teams worked to navigate the strong currents of the Marsyangdi river to retrieve the bodies and rescue survivors. This tragic accident highlights the inherent dangers of travel on Nepal’s mountainous roads, where such incidents are unfortunately not uncommon.