IAF plane to airlift bodies of Nepal bus accident victims

Seventeen people were killed and 28 injured in the accident near Kathmandu.

India has sent a special plane to Kathmandu to carry back the victims of the bus accident that killed 17 people on Wednesday.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said an IAF plane, IL-76, was sent to Kathmandu on Wednesday to carry back the mortal remains.

“On account of more time for formalities in tragic bus accident, IAF has informed that mortal remains and injured will return tomorrow,” informed Mr. Swarup through his official Twitter account on Wednesday.

Seventeen people were killed and 28 injured in the accident near Naubise in Dhading district on Wednesday, some 30 km from Kathmandu. All the passengers are from Gujarat. About 40 passengers on the other bus, also from Gujarat, are safe. The people were on their way home after visiting temples in Kathmandu, including the Pashupatinath.

Meanwhile, the driver of the ill-fated bus, Raju Bhai, said the accident occurred after the brakes failed, according to two dailies, Annapurna Post and Kantipur .

“The brakes were fine when we started in the morning,” he told the

Kantipur daily, from his hospital bed. “At a turning I applied the brake but it did not work. I tried the hand brake, but since the bus is a big one, I panicked.”

The bus veered towards the right, hit the netted road-side barrier and fell into the rivulet, near Naubise.

A month ago, an Indian family from Jharkhand, met with an accident at Kulekhani in Makwanpur district on their way to visit Pashupatinath temple. Five of the family died in the accident.

Nepal’s highways have seen frequent accidents. There were several accidents late last year, forcing the government to announce a set of rules governing passenger vehicles.

Helpline Numbers provided by Indian Embassy, Kathmandu:

The embassy has provided helpline nos.: +977 9851107021 (Mr. Robin Bhattacharya) and +977 1 4411027 (Smt. Sumati S. Rao).

Names of those killed in the accident

1. Ganesh Shiva Chhatwara (M)

2. Jasu Ben (F)

3. Ganesh Shanker Chhatwara (M)

4. Ishwar Shyamji Chhatwara (M)

5. Kanchan Ben (F)

6. Labu Ben (F)

7. Dalpat Bhai Chhatwara (M)

8. Savita Ben (F)

9. Devji Bhai (M)

10. Gauri Ben (F)

11. Daya Ram Chhatwara (M)

12. Ganga Ram Chhatwara (M)

13. Leela Ben (F)

14. Narsi Poppat Bhai Chhatwara (M)

15. Alpesh Kodi Patel, bus helper (M)

16. Champa Ben, cook (F)

17. Jasu Ben, cook (F)