by At least 12 people, including two Indians, were killed when a passenger bus plunged into the Rapti river in Nepal’s Lumbini province. The bus was en route to Kathmandu from Nepalgunj when it veered off the Rapti bridge in Bhgalubang and fell into the river along the East-West Highway.
As of Saturday, five passengers died while undergoing treatment, and the bodies of seven others were recovered from the accident site. The two Indian nationals who lost their lives were identified as Mune (31) and Yogendra Ram Jogendra (67). The other victims were named as Kusum Basnet, Saurabh Bista, Tara Kanta Pandey, Mun Bahadur Rawat, Rambaran Harichand, and Deepak Kami.
Authorities reported that 23 people were injured in the accident, with eight of them rushed to the Nepalgunj Medical Teaching Hospital for treatment. Two Indian nationals are currently receiving medical care at the Kolhapur-based hospital.
The cause of the accident remains unclear, and an investigation is underway. The bus driver, identified as Lal Bahadur Nepali (28), has been taken into custody for questioning.
This is not the first incident of its kind in Nepal. In October last year, a vehicle carrying 12 Indian nationals and a Nepalese driver overturned in Makawanpur district near Kathmandu. The vehicle was heading towards Kathmandu from Birgunj when the driver lost control, resulting in injuries to all passengers.
Accidents like these highlight the importance of road safety measures and the need for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations. Authorities must conduct thorough investigations to determine the causes of such incidents and take necessary steps to prevent them in the future.
Our thoughts and condolences go out to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident. It serves as a reminder for all of us to prioritize safety and exercise caution while traveling on the roads.
