MUMBAI:  In a devastating incident on Friday, a bus carrying Indian pilgrims from Maharashtra's Jalgaon district veered off a highway in Nepal and plunged into the Marsyangdi River, resulting in the deaths of 27 individuals and injuring 16 others. The bus was part of a larger group of 104 pilgrims who had travelled to Nepal for a ten-day pilgrimage, primarily to visit the revered Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu.

The accident occurred near Abukhaireni town, in Nepal's Tanahun district, around 115 kilometres from Kathmandu. Eyewitness reports indicate that the bus lost control and rolled into the river, leading to a chaotic rescue operation involving local police and armed forces. It took nearly seven hours for rescue teams to recover the deceased and assist the injured. 

Among the deceased, the Maharashtra government has identified 16 individuals, including several from the Varangaon, Daryapur, Talvel, and Bhusaval areas of Jalgaon. The victims ranged in age, with some as young as 8 years old.

Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, expressed his condolences via social media, stating that the district collector was coordinating with officials in Uttar Pradesh and the Indian embassy in Kathmandu to facilitate the return of the victims and survivors.  The state government will also be arranging for an Indian Air Force aircraft to transport the bodies back to Maharashtra. 

The tragedy has deeply affected the local community in Jalgaon, with many families mourning the loss of their loved ones. Former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse, who visited the families of the victims, described the incident as a significant loss for the community. Nepal's Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli also extended his condolences, highlighting the tragic nature of the accident and offering support to the affected families.