Tragic Bus Accident in Nepal Claims 27 Indian Tourists' Lives

A bus carrying 43 Indian tourists plunged into a river in Nepal, killing 27 and injuring 16. The passengers were headed to Kathmandu from Pokhara. Rescuers pulled 22 people from the river, with serious injuries requiring airlifts. Uttar Pradesh officials are coordinating rescue efforts.

A bus carrying 43 Indian tourists and crew members plunged into a rain-swollen river in 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, according to spokesperson Shailendra Thapa. The passengers on board included 41 Indians and two crew members traveling from Pokhara to Kathmandu. Navigating the narrow, treacherous roads in the mountainous region can be challenging, often contributing to such accidents.

Rescue teams managed to pull 22 individuals from the fast-flowing Marsyangdi river located in Tanahun district, about 118 kilometers from Kathmandu. Out of these, 12 were seriously injured and were airlifted to the capital for urgent medical attention. At least six people succumbed to their injuries in the hospital, Thapa confirmed.

In a coordinated rescue effort, police and army teams used long metal ladders and ropes to reach and retrieve the injured and deceased from the river. Video footage showcased exhausted women and children lying amid debris on the riverbank, with rescuers heroically pulling a nearly fainting child to safety.

The state of Uttar Pradesh in India, where the passengers had boarded the bus, has sent an official to assist in the rescue efforts, as reported by news agency ANI.

(With inputs from agencies.)