Bus carrying Indian tourists plunges into Marsyangdi River, at least 27 dead

Published On: August 23, 2024 09:50 PM NPT By: Samiksha Shrestha

The bus en route to Kathmandu from Pokhara fells 150 meters off the road into the river

KATHMANDU, Aug 23: In yet another tragic road accident, a bus carrying 43 Indian tourists including driver and co-driver plunged into the Marsyangdi River at Aaina Pahara, Anbu Khaireni-2, in Tanahun district, on Friday.

At least 27 of those traveling in the ill-fated bus (UP 53 FT 7623) en route to Kathmandu from Pokhara are confirmed dead while the remaining others are currently undergoing treatment in Kathmandu and a local hospital in Tanahun.

According to DSP Dipak Kumar Raya, spokesperson for the District Police Office in Tanahun, the accident occurred at around 11:30 AM. “The passenger bus fell from Aaina Pahara, Anbu Khaireni-2, into the Marsyangdi River,” DSP Raya said.

The passengers on the ill-fated bus were part of a larger group of 104 Indian pilgrims from Bhusal village in Jalgaon district of India’s Maharashtra State. They had arrived in Nepal two days earlier for a 10-day tour. The group, traveling in three buses, had reached Pokhara on August 21 and stayed there at Hotel Sports Nepal for two days before heading to Kathmandu on Friday morning. Tragically, one of these buses met with an accident, according to police officials.

Madhav Prasad Paudel, chief of the Armed Police Force (APF) Battalion in Kurintar, said that most of the passengers traveling in the three buses were families and relatives.

A rescue operation was launched immediately after the accident, led by a team from the Nepali Army and the Armed Police Force (APF) including 10 divers.

SSP Madhav Paudel from the Armed Police Force Nepal Disaster Management Training School oversaw the operation. Due to the difficult terrain at the accident site, ropes were used to reach the riverbank and rescue the injured as well as recover the deceased.

Similarly, 35 APF personnel from Number 23 Battalion, Bhanu, Tanahun, were also involved in the rescue operation.

According to police, out of the 43 passengers on board, 41 were rescued from the accident site while the bodies of two others were retrieved from other locations. While at least 14 people died on the spot, the death toll reached 27 by the evening as those rescued alive also succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment.

Those confirmed dead till Friday evening include 15 females and 11 males dead at Anbu Khaireni Hospital. Similarly, one child died at a Chitwan-based hospital, according to Chief District Officer of Tanahun, Janardan Gautam.

Among the survivors, 12 injured passengers were airlifted by a Nepali Army helicopter to Kathmandu later in the afternoon. They are currently receiving treatment at the TU Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj. The army helicopter continued to shuttle between the accident site and Kathmandu to transport the injured and provide medical assistance.

Bodies of deceased taken to Chitwan for post-mortem examinations

The bodies of the deceased have been taken to Chitwan for post-mortem examinations. Although, earlier, Chief District Officer (CDO) of Tanahun, Janardan Gautam, confirmed that the bodies would be handed over to their families after the post-mortem is completed at the Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences, the post-mortem of bodies recovered is being held in Bharatpur Hospital, Chitwan.

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu has expedited coordination for relief efforts in the immediate aftermath of the tragic accident. The embassy said that it is coordinating with the local authorities undertaking relief and rescue. The embassy has asked all those concerned to contact its emergency relief number at 977-9851107021.

Victims identified

The identities of the Indian nationals on the bus have been disclosed. Among them were Anant Onkar Engke, Sima Engde, Suhas Rane, Sharan Rane, Chandana Rane, Sudhakar Jawake, Rohini Jawake, Bijaya Kudu Jawake, Bharti Prakash Jawake, Sagar Jawake, Tulsi Ram Tayde, Sharan Tayde, Bhangran Rane, Prakash Kokhi, Rekha Kokhi, Sandeep Sarode, Pasbhi Sarode, Gokarni Sarode, Hem Raj Sarode, Rupakshi Sarode, Anup Sarode, Ganesh Bharnbe, Milan Bharnbe, Sulabha Bharnbe, Bijasa Jawse, Bharti Bhiruk, Sharadha Patiha, Nithoma Jawre, Kumudini Jhanwar, Dhanendra Bodh, Aasha Bodh, Asha Baviskar, Ashakha Pandurang, Sunis Dhande, Saroj Birud, Pankaj Bhangade, and Barsha Bhangade, Murtija, Ramjit, Anita Abhinas Parith, Saroj Manoj Bhiruk, Gyaneshwor Namdev Bhangade, Abhinas Bhagwat Parith.

Monsoon tragedies plague Nepal

This tragic event is the latest in a series of accidents exacerbated by Nepal's harsh monsoon season. Earlier this year, in July, 65 people were swept into the Trishuli River after two buses were caught in a landslide. The buses, Angel Deluxe (Ba Pra 03-006 Kha 1516) going to Kathmandu from Birgunj and the Ganapati Bus (Ba Pra 03-001 Kha 2495) going from Kathmandu to Gaur, were traveling during heavy rains when they were pushed off the road into the swollen river by a landslide.

The bodies from the two buses were washed away down the Trishuli River, as far as 100 kilometers. Despite extensive search operations and the deployment of a 12-member team from India's National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the two missing buses and many passengers swept away by the landslide are yet to be located.

In another incident on Friday, An EV (microbus) en route to Pokhara from Kathmandu met with an accident in Dhading district. At least 15 people have been injured in the accident at the Sim Bazar along the Prithvi Highway in Galchhi Rural Municipality. The District Police Office, Dhading, said that the microbus met with the accident due to the slippery road conditions caused by rain.

According to Makendra Mishra of the District Police Office, Dhading, the microbus (Ha 0121) met with an accident at around 10 AM Friday. The microbus overturned on the road. The injured have been sent to a local hospital for treatment. Further details regarding this incident are yet to be received.

Nepal has been struggling with severe monsoon-related disasters this year. Since the onset of the monsoon season, at least 195 people have been killed since June 10 this year so far. According to Nepal Police Spokesperson Dan Bahadur Karki, three people have died in floods and landslides in the Kathmandu Valley while 27 in Koshi Province, eight in Madhesh Province, 36 in Bagmati Province, 56 in Gandaki Province, 37 in Lumbini Province, 13 in Karnali Province and 15 in Sudurpaschim Province.

Similarly, two persons were injured in Koshi, one in Madhesh, 41 in Bagmati, two in Gandaki, one each in Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces due to landslides and search for the missing ones is ongoing.

The monsoon season in Nepal has been particularly deadly this year, with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority warning that this year’s monsoon is expected to bring more rainfall than average, potentially affecting 1.8 million people and impacting about 412,000 households across the country. Authorities have also urged citizens to remain vigilant as the country faces ongoing threats from monsoon-induced disasters.