Tragic Bus Accident Claims Lives of 27 Indian Pilgrims in Nepal

A tourist bus carrying Indian pilgrims from Maharashtra veered off the highway in central Nepal, resulting in the deaths of 27 passengers. The victims' bodies will be transported to Nashik by an Indian Air Force plane. The government is providing all possible assistance to the affected families.

Tragedy struck north Maharashtra's Jalgaon district on Friday as at least 27 pilgrims from the region died after the tourist bus they were traveling in veered off the highway and fell into the fast-flowing Marsyangdi River in central Nepal.

An Indian Air Force plane will transport the bodies to Nashik on Saturday, according to a state government release. The victims hailed from Varangaon, Daryapur, Talvel, and Bhusaval in Jalgaon district, 470 km from Mumbai.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who assured all possible help. The accident occurred in the Anbookhaireni area of Chitawan district in Nepal when the bus from Gorakhpur, carrying 43 passengers, was heading towards Kathmandu from Pokhara. Sixteen people died on the spot, while 11 succumbed to their injuries during treatment, said Shailendra Thapa, Deputy Spokesperson of the Armed Police Force in Kathmandu.

(With inputs from agencies.)