Eyewitnesses described the horror as the vehicle veered off a narrow road in Tanahun district’s Ambukhaireni area, before plummeting into a deep khud. Local authorities mobilized rescue operations, ferrying the injured to medical facilities amid challenging conditions.

In a heartfelt post on X, the embassy conveyed sympathies: ‘Our hearts go out to the families of the departed. We are in constant coordination with Nepalese officials to transport the mortal remains swiftly and ensure the wounded recover fully.’

This tragedy revives painful memories of the August 2024 bus mishap in the same vicinity, where 27 lives were lost. Nepal’s escalating road fatality rates paint a grim picture – from 4,999 accidents reported a decade back to 7,669 in the recent fiscal year, including 190 deaths.

Boosting tourism between India and Nepal hasn’t come without costs, as overcrowded buses navigate perilous routes. The embassy assures ongoing support to affected kin, while Nepalese police probe potential factors like driver fatigue and poor road maintenance. Safer journeys for pilgrims remain a pressing priority.

The electric vehicle lost control on a sharp bend in the Kantar region of Shahid Lakhan Rural Municipality, tumbling into a deep valley. Gorkha police spokesperson DSP Raj Kumar Shrestha said seven more pilgrims are injured and receiving care at Chitwan Medical College in Chitwan district.

Rescue teams worked through the night, battling difficult terrain to reach the wreckage. Local administrator Tulsi Bahadur Shrestha noted the bus was en route to Anbukhaireni in Tanahun from the temple, with over 12 people aboard.

The cause is under investigation, but preliminary reports point to the perils of navigating Nepal’s hilly terrain. This stretch of road has a grim history; in August 2024, another bus crash here killed 27 Indian pilgrims.

Nepal’s road safety crisis is worsening. Traffic police records indicate accidents surged 53% over the past decade, from nearly 5,000 to over 7,600 last year. The World Bank’s analysis reveals road crashes now drain 1.5% of the nation’s GDP—up threefold since 2007.

Disproportionately, the poor and vulnerable suffer most: over 70% of deaths involve pedestrians, cyclists, and two-wheeler riders. This latest disaster amplifies calls for stricter vehicle regulations, better road maintenance, and awareness campaigns targeting cross-border pilgrims.

Heartfelt condolences pour in for the victims’ families, as Nepal grapples with recurring tragedies on its pilgrimage routes.