Kathmandu, April 22 (IANS) At least 17 Indian pilgrims were killed and 28 others injured on Wednesday when a bus carrying them plunged into a river while negotiating a sharp bend along a downhill section of the Prithvi Highway in Nepal, police said.
According to Superintendent of Police Narayan Singh Khadka, the accident took place at 6.40 a.m. when the bus carrying 45 Indian pilgrims from Gujarat skidded off the Prithvi Highway, rolled down 200 metres and plunged into Jhyapre river in Dhading district, some 50 km west of Kathmandu.
Khadka said 14 people died on the spot while three others succumbed in hospital.
The 45 Indian pilgrims aboard the bus were returning to Gorakhpur in India after visiting the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu.
The injured were taken to various hospitals in Kathmandu, including the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Vayodha Hospital, Shahid Memorial Hospital and Norvic Hospital.
Personnel of the army, police and armed police along with local residents carried out the rescue work at the accident site.
The Armed Police Force of Nepal said 14 of the 17 killed in the accident belonged to Surendranagar village in Gujarat.
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae visited the various hospitals to meet the injured pilgrims, the embassy said in a statement.
“Latest position on bus accident on Wednesday — 17 dead, 27 injured, five critical and one missing. Our consular team is on the spot. We are sending injured to different hospitals for treatment,” the embassy said.
It further added that the bus, carrying around 45 Indian pilgrims, was an Indian registered vehicle, operated by Shri Hari Tours & Travels of Gujarat state bearing registration number GJ14X9900.
The Indian embassy also released the names of those killed in the bus accident. The victims were identified as:
1. Ganesh Shiva
2. Jasu Ben W/o Ganesh Shanker
3. Ganesh Shanker
4. Ishwar Shyamji
5. Kanchan Ben W/o Narottam Shiva
6. Labu Ben W/o Pragji Bhagwan
7. Dalpat Bhai
8. Savita Ben W/o Devji Bhai
9. Devji Bhai
10. Gauri Ben W/o Daya Ram
11. Daya Ram
12. Ganga Ram
13. Leela Ben W/o Narsi Poppat Bhai
14. Narsi Poppat Bhai
15. Alpesh Kodi Patel (helper)
16. Champa Ben, cook
17. Jasu Ben, cook
(Anil Giri can be contacted at girianil@gmail.com)