Indian Air Force Brings Back Bodies of 25 Pilgrims Killed in Nepal Bus Accident to Maharashtra

Kathmandu: Late on Saturday night, the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out a solemn mission, transporting the bodies of 25 Indian pilgrims who tragically lost their lives in a bus accident in Nepal. The bodies were brought back to Jalgaon, Maharashtra, aboard a military transport aircraft.

The horrific accident occurred on Friday in Nepal’s Tanahun district, approximately 115 kilometers from Kathmandu. The victims were part of a group of 110 pilgrims from various parts of Maharashtra who had traveled to Nepal in two buses and a van. Following the tragedy, 48 survivors, along with the bodies of the bus driver and his assistant, crossed the border into Uttar Pradesh’s Maharajganj.

Officials have confirmed that the pilgrims from Maharashtra will continue their journey home by train from Gorakhpur.

In a statement on ‘X’, the Indian Air Force detailed the operation: “Responding swiftly to a call for crucial humanitarian support, the #IAF deployed a C-130J aircraft to airlift the mortal remains of 25 Indian citizens who tragically lost their lives in a road accident in Nepal.” The post also mentioned that the mortal remains were transported from Bharatpur, Nepal, to Jalgaon, Maharashtra, and extended condolences to the bereaved families while wishing a speedy recovery for those injured.

Union Minister Raksha Khadse, who was overseeing the repatriation process in Kathmandu, expressed her gratitude on ‘X’, stating, “Special arrangements have been made for the remaining passengers to travel from Gorakhpur to their hometown. Very much thankful to the Indian Railways for the swift response.”

Earlier in the day, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu reported that Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse and Sanjay Savkare, an MLA from Bhusawal constituency, had arrived in the city to coordinate the efforts.

In a gesture of support, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased, with Rs 50,000 allocated for the injured.

The ill-fated pilgrimage, which was a 10-day tour, took a tragic turn when one of the buses veered off the highway and plunged into the fast-flowing Marsyangdi River at Abu Khaireni in Tanahun district. The crash left 27 people dead and 16 others injured.

Post-mortem examinations for all 27 victims were conducted at Bharatpur Hospital in Nepal’s Chitwan district, as confirmed by Home Ministry spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai.

During the day, Minister Raksha Khadse, accompanied by Sanjay Savkare and Nepal’s Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, visited the injured passengers at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu. Khadse expressed her appreciation for the prompt assistance provided by the Nepalese government and the Indian Embassy.

Of the 16 injured, hospital sources report that while one remains in critical condition, the others are stable.

Nepal’s Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli also expressed his condolences on ‘X’, mourning the loss of life and extending his sympathies to the families of the victims.

The rescue operation, which lasted nearly seven hours, was conducted by personnel from the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Army. The deceased and injured were from Varangaon, Daryapur, Talvel, and Bhusaval in Jalgaon district, located 470 kilometers from Mumbai. The buses were en route from Gorakhpur to Kathmandu via Pokhara when the tragic accident occurred.