KATHMANDU: A tragic accident occurred on Friday when a tourist bus carrying Indian pilgrims veered off the highway and plunged into the fast-flowing Marsyangdi River in central Nepal. The accident resulted in the deaths of at least 18 pilgrims. The bus, which had an Indian registration number, was traveling from the resort town of Pokhara to Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, when it went off the road in Aaina Pahara, Tanahun district, approximately 120 kilometers from Kathmandu.

The bus was transporting a group of 104 Indian pilgrims from Maharashtra who had arrived in Nepal two days prior for a 10-day tour of the Himalayan nation. Out of the 43 people on board, including the driver and co-driver, 18 were confirmed dead. The accident occurred when the bus, which had departed from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, lost control and fell 150 meters into the river.

The local news portal MyRepublica reported that the bus was part of a larger group traveling together. The authorities are investigating the exact cause of the accident, but initial reports suggest potential issues with the bus's brakes or the driver's control.