14 Indians died after passenger bus falls into river in Nepal

In a tragic incident, rescuers in Nepal's Tanahun district recovered 14 bodies from the Marsyangdi River after a passenger bus with an Uttar Pradesh registration number plunged into the water on Friday. The bus, carrying 41 passengers, was en route to Kathmandu from Pokhara when it veered off the road near the Abu Khairani area and fell into the swollen river.

Mohan Thapa, District Police Chief of Kaski, confirmed that while 14 bodies have been retrieved, 16 passengers were rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. The condition of the rescued passengers remains uncertain as authorities continue to search for at least 11 others who are still missing.

The rescue operation is being carried out by the Nepal Army, police, and the Armed Police Force, with assistance from an army helicopter coordinated by the Indian embassy in Kathmandu. The bus, bearing the registration number UP 54 7623, was reportedly traveling from Pokhara, where it had arrived on Wednesday.

The identities of the passengers are being verified by police, who are cross-referencing the names obtained from hotel records. Eyewitnesses reported that although the bus plunged into the Marsyangdi River, it did not fully submerge, offering a glimmer of hope for the ongoing rescue efforts.