At least 14 people have lost their lives after a bus carrying passengers from India plunged into a river in Nepal, according to officials.
Reports indicate that around 40 people were on board the bus, which was en route to Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, from Pokhara.
Rescue operations are currently ongoing at the accident site along the bank of the Marsyangdi River in Tanahun district.
The cause of the accident and the identities of the victims have not yet been confirmed.
“The bus bearing number plate UP FT 7623 plunged into the river and is lying on the bank of the river,” news agency ANI quoted Deepkumar Raya, a senior police official from Tanahun, as saying. The vehicle is registered in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of the western state of Maharashtra said that some of the victims were from the state.
“We are in touch with the Uttar Pradesh government to bring the bodies of the deceased to Maharashtra in coordination with the Nepal government,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Videos from the accident site reveal the mangled remains of the bus at the bottom of a steep slope, lying next to a fast-flowing river. Rescue personnel can be seen searching for survivors among the wreckage.
A Nepal army helicopter, carrying a medical team, has been dispatched to the accident site.
The bus route from Pokhara to Kathmandu is a popular choice for Indian tourists and pilgrims.
Accidents are frequently reported in Nepal, often attributed to factors such as poor road and vehicle maintenance, as well as narrow paths in mountainous regions.
In July, dozens of people went missing after a landslide swept two passenger buses into the Trishuli River.
Comments are closed.