7 Indian pilgrims killed, several injured after bus slips off mountain road in Nepal

At least seven Indian pilgrims were killed and nine other people were injured late Saturday when the microbus in which they were returning from the revered Manakamana Temple plunged off a mountain road in Nepal’s Gorkha district , officials said. The vehicle veered off a downhill stretch near Sahid Lakhan village in the Kantar area and fell roughly 150 metres (about 500 feet) into a ravine before coming to a stop, underscoring the hazardous nature of travel on steep, poorly maintained Himalayan roads.

Police and local administration officials said the accident happened on a narrow path connecting the highway to the temple, a popular Hindu pilgrimage site where devotees believe the goddess grants wishes to those who visit. The bus was carrying over a dozen passengers when it skidded off the curve, but authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the crash. Investigators are considering factors such as vehicle mechanical failure, possible brake issues and the challenging road conditions.

All seven people who died on the spot were Indian pilgrims, including five men and two women, according to Superintendent of Police Bharat Bahadur BK of the District Police Office in Gorkha. The victims were later taken to a hospital for post‑mortem examinations as part of standard procedures.

Nine others were injured in the crash, including seven Indian pilgrims and two Nepali nationals the microbus driver and his assistant. The injured were transported to the College of Medical Sciences in Bharatpur, Chitwan , and are receiving treatment; officials have described some cases as serious, with several patients admitted to intensive care units.

Among those who died were Muthu Kumar (58) , Anamalik (58) , Meenakshi (59) , Sivagami (53) , Vijayal (57) , Meena (58) and Tamilarsi (60) , all Indian nationals. The injured pilgrims receiving medical attention include Soranam (62) , Mangada Jalam (65) , Subhadra (75) , Mayal (65) , Saroja (73) , Bhagyalakshmi (75) and Meenakshi (34) .

Rescue operations involved teams from the Armed Police Force Nepal and local police, who worked through the night to retrieve the injured and recover the bodies. Authorities have said a full probe into the causes of the accident is underway, and are expected to release more details as investigations progress.

The tragedy highlights the risks associated with road travel in Nepal’s mountainous regions, where steep terrain, tight curves and variable road upkeep frequently contribute to serious crashes involving public and private vehicles.