At least 14 people lost their lives, and 16 others sustained injuries when an Indian tourist bus plunged 150 metres into the fast-flowing Marsyangdi River in central Nepal on Friday, reported news agency PTI citing local authorities.
The bus, bearing the registration number UP 53 FT 7623, was en route from the resort town of Pokhara to the capital city of Kathmandu when it veered off the highway near Aaina Pahara in the Tanahun district. The vehicle, originating from Gorakhpur, was carrying 43 passengers, including the driver and co-driver.
An Indian tourist bus travelling from Pokhara to Kathmandu with around 43 Indians fell 150 meter into Marshyandi River today.@IndiaInNepal is coordinating with local authorities undertaking Relief & Rescue.????Emergency relief number of Embassy: +977-9851107021
— IndiaInNepal (@IndiaInNepal) August 23, 2024
Deputy Superintendent of Police Shailendra Thapa of the Armed Police Force (APF) reported that 14 bodies have been recovered from the crash site. The 16 injured passengers have been transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. The bus, which came to rest on the riverbank, was severely damaged in the incident.
In response to the tragedy, the Nepal Army deployed an MI 17 helicopter to the accident site at Anbu Khaireni in Tanahun district, carrying a medical team to assist in the rescue operation, as reported by the MyRepublica news portal. The Gandaki Province Police Office in Pokhara stated that 15 of those rescued are able to communicate.
Monsoon disasters haunt Nepal
The tragic event echoes a similar incident from July this year, when 65 people were swept into the Trishuli River in Nepal after two buses were caught in a landslide. The buses, one headed to Kathmandu and the other from Kathmandu to Rautahat’s Gaur, were travelling during heavy rains when they were pushed off the road into the swollen river below.
Nepal has been grappling with severe monsoon-related disasters. Since the onset of the monsoon season, at least 62 people have been killed, and 90 others have sustained injuries in rain-related incidents as of July.
Nepal braces for severe monsoon
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority under Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs has warned that this year’s monsoon is expected to bring more rainfall than average, potentially affecting 1.8 million people and impacting approx 412,000 households across the country. Authorities have also urged citizens to remain vigilant as the country faces ongoing threats from monsoon-induced disasters.
First Published: Aug 23 2024 | 2:14 PM IST
