Indian Minister of State Briefed on Fatal Tanahun Bus Accident

The Ministry of Home Affairs of Nepal briefed India’s Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Nikhil Khadse, on Saturday regarding the tragic bus accident in Tanahun that claimed the lives of 27 Indian citizens.

During a meeting at Ministry in Singha Durbar, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak discussed the incident, the rescue operations, and the ongoing treatment of the injured with Minister Khadse. The accident occurred on Friday in Ambukhaireni Rural Municipality-4, Tanahun, when an Indian passenger bus (UP 53 FT 7623) traveling from Pokhara to Kathmandu plunged 200 meters off the road into the Marsyangdi River. The crash resulted in 27 fatalities and left 16 others injured.

Minister Lekhak expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and wished for the swift recovery of the injured. He emphasized that the government of Nepal is fully committed to ensuring the best possible care for the survivors. “We will leave no stone unturned to treat the injured,” said Minister Lekhak, noting the prompt response of security agencies and local administration in the rescue efforts.

Minister Khadse, who also visited the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital to check on the injured, expressed her gratitude for the Nepalese government’s efficient management of the situation, from rescue to medical treatment. She praised the doctors for their dedicated efforts in treating the injured, mentioning that some of her relatives were among those who perished in the accident.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, three of the injured passengers are currently in the ICU, while the others are in general wards, with their conditions reported to be improving. The injured were airlifted to Kathmandu on Friday by a Nepal Army helicopter. The ill-fated bus was carrying a total of 43 passengers.

The bodies of those who died in the crash are undergoing post-mortem examinations at Bharatpur Hospital in Chitwan. Following the briefing, Minister Khadse announced plans to visit the hospital in Chitwan.

After the autopsies are completed, the bodies will be handed over to the Indian authorities, who are making arrangements to transport them back to India on a special flight.