Maha Deputy CM Fadnavis condoles the death of victims in bus accident in Nepal

New Delhi [India], August 23 (ANI): Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his condolences on the death of Indian passengers after a bus bearing a number plate of Uttar Pradesh plunged into a river in Nepal, killing 14 in the process on Friday.
Taking to social media site X, Fadnavis said, "A very unfortunate incident has taken place where some devotees from Maharashtra have died in an accident where a bus fell into a valley in Nepal. I offer heartfelt tributes to the deceased. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured."
"According to initial information, it is known that these devotees are from Jalgaon district. The state government immediately contacted the Nepal Embassy, and the Collector of Jalgaon is in constant contact with the Collector of Maharajganj in Uttar Pradesh, which is on the Nepal border. A district and Deputy Superintendent of Police are accompanying them and they will go to the Nepal border. Our officials are constantly in touch to provide immediate medical facilities to the injured. We are in touch with the Uttar Pradesh government to bring the bodies of the deceased to Maharashtra in coordination with the Nepal government. The Maharashtra Disaster Management Unit has also been instructed to coordinate, and Minister Girish Mahajan and Anil Patil are also in constant contact," he further added.
Earlier today, a Nepal police official said that a passenger bus with an Uttar Pradesh number plate that had originated from UP's Gorakhpur plunged into a river in Nepal's Tanahun district.
The bus was carrying 40 people when the accident happened. Fourteen bodies were retrieved from the accident site, Kumar Neupane, the spokesperson for Nepal's Armed Police Force, said.
Arjun Khanal, the owner of the hotel where the Indian tourists had stayed for two nights, told ANI, "They said that they're from Mumbai but had booked the vehicle from Kesharbani Travels for 8 days. The travel company has also contacted me and asked for the report. They are from various locations in India; some are from Maharastra, Pune, and Panvel and were here in Nepal on a six-day visit. They stayed in Pokhara for two days and before that in Lumbini and were on their way to Kathmandu's Gaushala."
Rupandehi District Police Office Spokesperson DSP Manohar Bhatta told ANI over the phone that the bus entered Nepal from Belahiya checkpoint in Rupandehi on August 20 with an 8-day permit.
The bus belonged to Kesharbani Travels and bore the licence plate number UP 53 FT 7623, the Bhatta said. Search and rescue operations have been initiated by the Nepal Army at the site of the incident.
Uttar Pradesh Transport Minister Daya Shankar Singh said that officials have been instructed to provide all possible help to the victims.
In a post on X, he said, "Received the sad news of the accident of a private bus from Gorakhpur while going from Pokhara to Kathmandu in Nepal. I pray to God for the peace of the souls of those who died in the accident and speedy recovery of the injured. The concerned officials have been instructed to provide all possible help to the victims."
As per the official, the bus was on its way to Kathmandu from Pokhara when the mishap took place. Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner said, "Regarding the Nepal incident, we are establishing contact to find out if any person from Uttar Pradesh was on the bus."
Sub-Divisonal Magistrate Maharajganj is being sent to Nepal and the Additional District Magistrate of Maharajganj will coordinate, the Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner said. (ANI)