Nepal bus accident: As many as seven Indian pilgrims died after a bus ferrying devotees veered off a mountain road and plunged into a 500-feet deep ravine in Western Nepal on Saturday, authorities reported on Sunday. The incident unfolded in the Gandaki province, after which the local authorities launched a rescue operation. 

According to police, the bus was on its way back from the revered Manakamana Temple, when it slipped off a sharp bend and rolled down the mountainside in the Gorkha district. 

Several reported injured

Suraj Aryal, chief of the Gorkha traffic police, confirmed that seven Indian nationals lost their lives in the incident, which include five men and two women. The ones who met the ill-fate have been identified as Muthu Kumar (58), Anamalik (58), Meenakshi (59), Sivagami (53), Vijayal (57), Meena (58) and Tamilarsi (60). Local media reports claimed that seven other passengers sustained grievous injuries in the incident, and were rescued from the crash site. They were then taken to a hospital in Anbukhaireni for treatment. Meanwhile, the bus driver managed to escape unhurt, while his assistant sustained wounds in the crash.

Accident transpired 120 kms away from Kathmandu

Officials aware of the incident said that the accident transpired near the Shahid Lakhan village, roughly 120 kilometres west of Kathmandu. The bus, according to officials, was travelling downhill when it lost control on a curve, slid off the road and plunged into a 500-feet deep ravine. All the pilgrims on board the bus had visited Manakamana Temple, a prominent Hindu shrine where devotees believe the goddess fulfills wishes of those who offer prayers. 

Last devastating accident unfolded on Feb 23, 2026

The incident comes weeks after another devastating road accident unfolded in Nepal on February 23, 2026. At least 19 passengers were killed when a bus bound for Kathmandu veered off the Prithvi Highway. It rolled down a mountain slope and crashed near the banks of the Trishuli River, about 80 kilometres west of Kathmandu.