Nepal: 17 Indian pilgrims killed in bus mishap, PM offers condolences

The injured passengers have been rushed to Kathmandu for medical treatment. The condition of six injured is critical.

At least 17 Indian passengers — all from Gujarat’s Surendranagar district — died and 28 sustained injuries as the bus they were travelling in fell 200 metre off the mountain highway at Nagdhunga, 16 km from Kathmandu, on Wednesday morning.

The double decker bus — with a Gujarat number plate — fell into the gorge as it negotiated a fragile corner on the road. Indian Ambassador Ranjit Rae, who rushed to visit the injured, coordinated with the Nepal officials, including the Army, for victims’ rescue and their transportation to Kathmandu for treatment.

All the 28 wounded have been admitted to a hospital in Kathmandu, where the condition of four is said to be critical. Fourteen passengers died on the spot, while three others succumbed to their injuries shortly after being taken to the hospital, official sources said. Nine women and eight men are among those killed.

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Very saddening news from Nepal. My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives in the bus accident at Neubise: PM

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 22, 2015

The government Wednesday sent an IL-76 aircraft to Kathmandu to bring back the bodies. The plane will reach Kathmandu Wednesday night. However, the bodies and 28 people injured will be air-lifted on Thursday after completion of formalities. The families of the deceased and wounded have been notified, official sources said.

The tour party from Gujarat of 45 pilgrims that was part of a larger group of 75 and travelled in two separate buses had arrived Tuesday at Kathmandu’s Pashupatinath Temple on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. The two buses left early in the morning and they were on the way back home via Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.

In the wake of the tragedy, Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel Wednesday tweeted that compensation of Rs 4 lakh will be offered to the kin of each deceased. PM Narendra Modi also tweeted on the tragedy saying that embassy officials from Nepal have reached the spot and are overseeing the treatment of those injured. Rescue efforts are still underway at the accident site and officials say the death toll may rise, officials said.

The official Twitter handle of the Indian Embassy in Nepal tweeted that a team of Consular Wing officials had been deputed to the accident site.
(With ENS inputs from Ahmedabad)

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