Bus carrying Indian pilgrims plunges into gorge in Nepal, killing seven
Victims identified as group of pilgrims from Tamil Nadu returning from Manakamana Temple; nine others injured in Saturday evening crash
KATHMANDU — March 15, 2026 — A passenger bus carrying Indian pilgrims slipped off a mountain road and plunged approximately 150 meters (500 feet) into a gorge in central Nepal on Saturday evening, killing seven people and leaving nine others injured, police confirmed on Sunday .
The accident occurred at approximately 6:25 p.m. local time on March 14 in the Kantar area of Sahid Lakhan Rural Municipality in Gorkha district, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of the capital, Kathmandu . The vehicle was returning downhill from the revered Manakamana Temple when it veered off a sharp curve and rolled down the mountainside before landing in a ravine .
Global markets steady after oil price plunge as Middle East conflict fuels volatility.
All seven deceased were Indian pilgrims, police said. Seven other Indian nationals aboard were injured and transported to nearby hospitals for treatment, while the remaining two injured were the Nepali bus driver and his assistant .
Casualties and rescue operation
Deputy Superintendent of Police Raj Kumar Shrestha of the District Police Office in Gorkha confirmed that seven pilgrims died in the crash. “Seven pilgrims have been injured and have been sent to Chitwan Medical College in Bharatpur, Chitwan district, for treatment,” Shrestha told IANS .
According to Bharat Bahadur BK, the district police office chief, the deceased have been identified as:
Suraj Aryal, chief of the District Traffic Police Office in Gorkha, confirmed that the deceased included two women and five men, all Indian nationals who had travelled to Manakamana for worship .
Police and local villagers who reached the wreckage pulled out the injured and helped transport them in ambulances to local hospitals for treatment. Rescue operations continued late into the night following the incident .
The driver of the electric microbus escaped unharmed, while his assistant sustained injuries, according to The Himalayan Times . Autopsies will be performed on the bodies before they are released to family members, police said .
Details of the accident
The microbus was carrying more than a dozen passengers returning after offering prayers at the Manakamana Temple, a popular Hindu shrine where devotees believe a goddess will grant them their wish if they visit .
Tulasi Bahadur Shrestha, Chief District Officer of Gorkha, told IANS: “The microbus was heading towards the Anbukhaireni area of Tanahun district, west of the Manakamana Temple, but it is not immediately clear where the passengers were heading after concluding their visit to the temple” .
Police said the vehicle was going downhill when it slipped off a curve on a steep stretch of the road . The cause of the accident remains under investigation, though authorities noted that the electric microbus crashed on a particularly steep section of the mountain road .
The accident occurred on a path leading from the highway to the temple near Shahid Lakhan village, located approximately 120 kilometers west of Kathmandu .
Russia Accuses Ukraine of ‘Reckless’ Drone Strikes on TurkStream Gas Pipeline Supplying Europe Pi Day 2026: Celebrating Mathematics’ Most Famous Constant with Pie, Puzzles, and Einstein’s Birthday.
Regional context: Recurring road safety challenges
Bus accidents are a recurring hazard in Nepal, most commonly attributed to treacherous terrain, poorly maintained roads, and inadequate vehicle maintenance . Much of the Himalayan country is covered by mountains and connected only by narrow, winding roads that often lack safety barriers or railings .
The latest tragedy follows another fatal accident involving Indian pilgrims in the same region. In August 2024, a bus carrying Indian pilgrims met with an accident in the Anbukhaireni area, killing at least 27 people .
More recently, on February 23, 2026, a tourist bus plunged into a 200-meter-deep ravine in Nepal’s Dhading district, killing 19 people and injuring 25 others. The dead in that incident included a British citizen, a Chinese woman, and an Indian man .
Nepal has witnessed a rise in road accidents in recent years, alongside an increase in the number of vehicles plying its roads . A decade ago, the Nepal Traffic Police reported 4,999 road accidents. Official data shows that in the fiscal year 2024–25, the country recorded 7,669 road accidents and 190 deaths .
Of the total accidents, 278 were classified as serious .
Economic impact of road accidents
Beyond the human toll, road safety has a major economic impact on Nepal. A study by the World Bank found that the economic cost of road traffic injuries has tripled since 2007 and now amounts to 1.5 per cent of the country’s gross national product .
Road crashes also have a disproportionate impact on the poor. More than 70 per cent of all road fatality victims in Nepal are vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, the World Bank study noted .
According to Bhaskar English’s analysis, five major factors contribute to the high number of accidents in Nepal: the mountainous terrain with deep ravines and steep slopes; poor and narrow roads lacking safety walls; heavy rainfall during monsoon season leading to landslides and flooding; geological instability due to Nepal’s location in an earthquake-prone region; and limitations of the transportation system including overloaded vehicles, aging fleets, and drivers with inadequate training for difficult mountainous terrain .
Investigation and next steps
Police said further investigation into the accident is underway . The cause of the crash remains unknown, though authorities are examining all possibilities including road conditions, vehicle mechanical fitness, and driver error .
The injured passengers continue to receive treatment at Chitwan Medical College in Bharatpur, Chitwan district . No update has been provided on their current conditions.
Indian diplomatic missions in Nepal have been alerted to the incident and are coordinating with Nepali authorities to provide assistance to the victims’ families and facilitate the repatriation of the deceased once post-mortem examinations are complete.
Conclusion
The tragic accident in Gorkha district on March 14, 2026, has claimed the lives of seven Indian pilgrims returning from worship at the Manakamana Temple, with nine others injured when their microbus plunged approximately 150 meters into a ravine. The victims, identified as seven individuals from Tamil Nadu aged between 53 and 60, represent yet another addition to Nepal’s grim road safety statistics.
As investigations continue into the precise cause of the crash, the incident highlights the persistent dangers of mountain driving in Nepal, where narrow roads, steep gradients, and challenging terrain combine with infrastructure limitations to create recurring hazards. The accident follows a pattern of similar tragedies, including the February 2026 crash in Dhading that killed 19 and the August 2024 accident in Anbukhaireni that claimed 27 lives.
For the families of Muthu Kumar, Anamalik, Meenakshi, Sivagami, Vijayal, Meena, and Tamilarsi, the journey that began as a pilgrimage of faith has ended in devastating loss. As Nepali authorities continue their investigation and Indian diplomatic missions provide support, the broader challenge of improving road safety in Nepal’s mountainous regions remains urgent and unresolved.
SOURCES / INPUTS
AP News: A bus carrying Indian pilgrims plunges off a mountain road in Nepal, killing 7
Modern World Order Explained: Power, Alliances & Global Systems.
Iran Says It Has Allowed Some Ships Through Strait of Hormuz Amid Regional Conflict, Ukrainian Drones Strike Major Oil Refinery and Port in Southern Russia, Kyiv Confirms.
