Bus with Indian onboard, plunges into river in Nepal with 40 passengers; casualties feared
PTC News Desk: An Indian passenger bus plunged into the Marsyangdi river in Nepal’s Tanahun district on Friday, resulting in 14 fatalities and 16 injuries. The bus, which was transporting 40 Indian nationals, was travelling from Pokhara to Kathmandu when the tragic accident occurred.
“The bus, with the license plate UP (Uttar Pradesh) FT 7623, plunged into the river,” stated DSP Deepkumar Raya of Tanahun district. The incident happened at Aaina Pahara in the Tanahun district, where the bus was found with its top completely ripped off and the wreckage resting near the Marsyangdi riverbank.
A rescue team of 45 police officers, led by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Madhav Paudel from the Armed Police Force Nepal Disaster Management Training School, quickly arrived at the scene to conduct rescue operations.
#WATCH | Nepal | An Indian passenger bus with 40 people onboard has plunged into the Marsyangdi river in Tanahun district, confirms Nepal Police.
“The bus bearing number plate UP FT 7623 plunged into the river and is lying on the bank of the river,” DSP Deepkumar Raya from the… pic.twitter.com/P8XwIA27qJ
— ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2024
It has been reported that the Indian passengers were staying at Majheri Resort in Pokhara before embarking on their journey to Kathmandu earlier that morning. In response to the incident, the Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner announced efforts to establish contact to determine if any residents from the state were involved, according to ANI.
Nepal’s challenging terrain and extensive river networks make it particularly vulnerable to such disasters. Just last month, two buses carrying around 65 passengers veered off the road into the Trishuli river in Nepal following a landslide, resulting in over 50 presumed deaths, including seven Indians.
That accident, which also took place during heavy rain, occurred on the Madan-Ashrit Highway in central Nepal, with one bus en route from Kathmandu to Gaur in Rautahat and the other traveling from Birgunj to Kathmandu.