Bodies of Nepal Bus Crash Victims Return to India Amid Evacuation Efforts

The bodies of the driver and conductor of a bus that crashed into a river in Nepal began their journey back to India. Additional arrangements for the injured passengers and the deceased from Maharashtra are being organized, with extensive support from Indian and Nepali authorities.

The bodies of the driver and conductor of the ill-fated bus that plunged into a river in Nepal were part of the first batch sent back to India on Saturday. Identified as Murtaza and Ramjeet, hailing from Uttar Pradesh, their bodies were transported by road from Chitwan to the Nepal-India border, according to Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner GS Naveen Kumar.

Kumar confirmed that 51 passengers from Maharashtra were safely being transported from Nepal to India in a travel bus. They are en route to Gorakhpur, accompanied by a police escort and Additional District Magistrate. Arrangements for food and water have been set up at the border. Upon their arrival at Maharajganj in Uttar Pradesh, these provisions will be provided before they continue to Gorakhpur. The Maharajganj administration has also arranged six hearses, eleven ambulances, and one 42-seater vehicle at the border, Kumar added.

The passengers' bodies from Maharashtra will be airlifted back to their home state after post-mortem examinations. Twenty-seven Indians lost their lives when the bus they were traveling in fell into the Marsyangdi River, about 110 kilometers from Kathmandu, on August 23. A Nepalese official indicated that the bodies would be transported by road via the Sonauli border crossing at Bhairahawa.

Meanwhile, arrangements for food and drinks have been made for all passengers at the border. The Maharajganj District Magistrate assured that everyone would reach Maharajganj by 4 pm. Once in Maharajganj, Murtaza's body will head to Gorakhpur and Ramjeet's to Kushinagar, both under police escort.

Relief Commissioner Kumar stated that 16 injured passengers are receiving treatment at Kathmandu Hospital and will be repatriated once their health improves. Ramesh Lekhak, Nepal's Home Minister, informed that the injured are receiving adequate treatment, and an Indian state minister has visited to check on their status. Decisions on whether patients will continue their treatment in Nepal or be transferred to India will be made following consultations with treating doctors.

In total, at least 27 Indians from Maharashtra died, and 16 others were injured when their bus veered off the highway and fell into the Marsyangdi River in the Aanboo Kaireni area of Tanahun district. The vehicle was on its way to Kathmandu from Pokhara when the tragic incident occurred. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)