The Indian Air Force will bring the bodies of the Maharashtra pilgrims, who were killed in a bus accident in Nepal, back to India, officials have said.
At least 27 pilgrims died after the tourist bus steered off the highway and fell into the Marsyangdi river. The victims hailed from Varangaon, Daryapur, Talvel, and Bhusaval in Jalgaon district, located 470 km from Mumbai, according to officials. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has discussed the situation with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has promised to provide all possible assistance.
The cause of the accident remains undetermined. The site of the incident is located on the national highway, approximately 90 km west of Kathmandu. The bus, which bore an Uttar Pradesh license plate, plunged around 150 meters down a hilly road adjacent to the Marsyangdi River and will be recovered using a crane.
Post-mortem underway
The post-mortem of the 27 Indian victims is underway in a hospital today in the Bagmati province. Post this, the bodies will be transported.
The medical examination is being held in the Bharatpur Hospital, a news portal reported. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Deepak Rai, the bodies were transferred from Anbu Khaireni Hospital to Chitwan for a post-mortem examination.
(With agency inputs)