At least 27 killed as bus carrying Indian tourists plunges into Nepal river
KATHMANDU: A bus carrying 43 Indian tourists and crew members plunged into a rain-swollen river in neighbouring Nepal on Friday (Aug 23), killing more than half of those on board, a Nepali armed police spokesperson said.
A total of 27 people died and 16 were injured in the accident, said spokesperson Shailendra Thapa.
All 41 passengers and two crew members were Indian and had been headed to the capital Kathmandu from the tourist city of Pokhara.
Roads in the mountainous region can challenge drivers as they are often narrow and treacherous, making it tough to manoeuvre large vehicles around hairpin curves.
Rescuers pulled 22 people from the swollen waters of the Marsyangdi river in the Tanahun district, about 118km from Kathmandu, of whom 12 were seriously injured and airlifted to the capital.
At least six people died in hospital, said Thapa.