Indian bus plunges into Nepal river: 27 lost lives : Injured passengers to be airlifted by Army chopper to Kathmandu hospital

ANI, Kathmandu [Nepal], August 23 : A bus carrying 43 Indian tourists and crew members plunged into a rain-swollen river in neighbouring Nepal on Friday, killing more than half of those on board, a Nepali armed police spokesperson said. 

A total of 27 people died and 16 were injured in the accident, said spokesperson Shailendra Thapa, adding that all 41 passengers and two crew were Indian and had been headed to the capital Kathmandu from the tourist city of Pokhara.

Rescuers pulled 22 people from the swollen waters of the Marsyangdi river in the Tanahun district, about 118 km (73 miles) from Kathmandu, of whom 12 were seriously injured and airlifted to the capital. At least six people died in hospital, said Thapa.

An MI-17 helicopter of the Nepal Army carrying a medical team has flown to the accident site in Tanahun district to assist in the search and rescue operations in the mishap involving an Indian passenger bus that plunged into a river in Nepal on Friday.

The Nepal Army helicopter took off for the accident site from the helipad in Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, the Communications Department of Nepal Army said.

Earlier in the day, a Nepal police official said that the passenger bus with an Uttar Pradesh number plate that plunged into a river in Nepal's Tanahun district on Friday had originated from Gorakhpur and was carrying tourists from India.

As per the Nepal Army Spokesperson, Gaurab Kumar KC, the helicopter has landed near the crash site. "Those with serious injuries will be flown back to Kathmandu in the same helicopter to Kathmandu for further treatment," the spokesperson confirmed to ANI over phone.

"They said that they're from Mumbai but had booked the vehicle from Kesharbani Travels for 8 days. The travel company also has contacted me and asked for the report. They are from various locations of India, some are from Maharastra, Pune, Panvel and were here in Nepal on a six-day visit. They stayed in Pokhara for two days and prior to that in Lumbini and were on their way to Kathmandu's Gaushala. Rooms were booked in Narayana Hotel for their stay," Arjun Khanal, the owner of the hotel where the Indian tourists had stayed for two nights told ANI.

Fourteen bodies were retrieved from the accident site, the Kumar Neupane, the spokesperson for Nepal's Armed Police Force said earlier today.

Rupandehi District Police Office Spokesperson DSP Manohar Bhatta told ANI over phone that the bus entered Nepal from Belahiya check-point in Rupandehi on August 20 with an 8-day permit.

The bus belonged to Kesharbani Travels and bore the license plate number UP 53 FT 7623, the official said. Search and rescue operations have been initiated by the Nepal Army at the site of the incident.

Uttar Pradesh Transport Minister Daya Shankar Singh said that officials have been instructed to provide all possible help to the victims.

In a post on X, he said, "Received the sad news of the accident of a private bus from Gorakhpur while going from Pokhara to Kathmandu in Nepal. I pray to God for the peace of the souls of those who died in the accident and speedy recovery of the injured. The concerned officials have been instructed to provide all possible help to the victims."

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner said, "Regarding the Nepal incident We are establishing contact to find out if any person from Uttar Pradesh was on the bus."Sub-Divisonal Magistrate Maharajganj is being sent to Nepal and the Additional District Magistrate of Maharajganj will coordinate, the Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner said.