Seven individuals lost their lives, and nine others sustained injuries following a tragic incident where a bus carrying pilgrims plunged down a mountainous route. The accident occurred close to Shahid Lakhan village, approximately 75 miles west of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. The bus, transporting numerous Indian pilgrims back from the revered Manakamana Temple, a significant Hindu pilgrimage site, skidded off the road on Saturday. The vehicle tumbled about 500 feet down the mountainside into a ravine after slipping off a curve while descending.

According to Gorkha District Police Office Chief Bharat Bahadur BK, five men and two women perished in the mishap. The deceased individuals were identified as Tamilarsi (60), Meenakshi (59), Muthu Kumar (58), Anamalik (58), Meena (58), Vijayal (57), and Sivagami (53). Additionally, nine others, comprising seven Indian pilgrims, a bus driver, and an assistant, sustained injuries and received medical attention at local hospitals after authorities and villagers rescued them from the wreckage.

Autopsies will be conducted on the deceased victims before their release to their respective families, as per police statements. Tragically, Nepal witnesses numerous fatal bus accidents annually due to inadequate road maintenance and vehicle conditions, compounded by the challenging terrain of the mountainous regions. Notably, in a recent incident in February, 19 individuals, including a British national, lost their lives, and 25 others were injured when a bus plunged off the Prithvi Highway, located 50 miles west of Kathmandu.

Moreover, in a devastating event in 2024, two buses carrying a total of 65 passengers were swept into the Trishuli river by a landslide, resulting in numerous fatalities and missing persons. The discovery of one of the buses buried in sand only this year underscores the lasting impact of such tragic incidents in Nepal.