Kathmandu: A tragic bus accident in Ambukhaireni has claimed the lives of 27 Indian tourists. The group was traveling to the Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal via Bhairahawa and Pokhara when their bus plunged into the Marsyangdi River near Aina Pahara, Ward No. 2 of Ambukhaireni Rural Municipality, Tanahun.
The tourists, who had embarked on their journey from Gorakhpur, India, were on a religious pilgrimage to Nepal, having previously visited the sacred sites of Badri, Kedar, Gaya, and Kashi in India. The bus, with registration number UP 53 FT 7623, had entered Nepal through the Belhia crossing on August 4th with an eight-day route permit. After spending two days in Pokhara, where they stayed at Hotel Sports and Pokhara Inn Hotel, the group had planned to visit Pashupatinath in Kathmandu.
Prashant Bhangade, a member of the group from India, recounted the ill-fated journey, noting that while the group had successfully visited the four Dhams, their pilgrimage to Nepal ended in heartbreak. “We had planned to return from this spiritual journey with peace in our hearts, but instead, we are leaving with tears in our eyes,” he said.
The group had been traveling in two buses. The accident occurred as the vehicles made their way from Pokhara to Kathmandu. Of the 43 passengers on the ill-fated bus, 16 were injured and are receiving treatment, though the condition of many remains critical. Sadly, 27 people lost their lives when the bus veered off the road and plunged into the Marsyangdi River while navigating a curve.
The surviving passengers, drivers, and co-drivers, who had entered Nepal with Kesharwani Transport Travels from Gorakhpur, were left traumatized. The bodies of the deceased are currently being held at Ambukhaireni Hospital, where distraught relatives from the second bus have gathered, many inconsolable.
Rescue efforts began immediately after the accident, with the Chief District Officer of Tanahun, Janardan Gautam, confirming that 16 survivors were airlifted to Kathmandu in two batches by Nepalese Army helicopters. “The news of the Indian tourist bus falling into the Marsyangdi River shook us, but we never anticipated such a heavy loss,” said CDO Gautam.
Indian tourists have become significant contributors to Nepal’s tourism industry in recent years. Gautam expressed concern that this tragic incident could result in substantial financial losses for both countries, as it occurred amid a growing trend of Indian tourists visiting Nepal in their own vehicles. The Indian Embassy has also taken an active interest in the situation, coordinating efforts and being present at the scene.
The injured were initially treated at Ambukhaireni Hospital before being transferred to a teaching hospital in Kathmandu by Nepalese Army helicopters. A decision was made to conduct postmortems at Bharatpur due to its proximity, and the bodies will be handed over to the relatives afterward.
Among the injured, 12 were sent to Kathmandu in the first helicopter batch, while four were in the second. Tragically, one critically injured person could not be saved and passed away in Chitwan, with the body now in Bharatpur. CDO Gautam confirmed that 26 of the deceased have been identified, with one victim yet to be named.
The tourists, mostly from Maharashtra, had traveled to Nepal with plans to visit several religious sites along with their neighbors and acquaintances. Ambukhaireni Rural Municipality Chairman Shukar Chuman reported that the bus fell into the Marsyangdi River at a spot not typically considered dangerous. “It appears that the bus may have lost control after navigating a curve and heading onto a straight road,” Chuman noted.
Assistant Chief District Officer of Kaski, Ganga Bahadur Chhetri, highlighted the challenges faced during the rescue operation due to the lack of a centralized system to track tourists entering Nepal by road. “If we had a mechanism to record every tourist vehicle that entered, identification would have been quicker. This incident offers a crucial lesson for the future,” said Assistant CDO Chhetri.
