Seven Indian pilgrims killed as microbus plunges in Gorkha

At least seven Indian pilgrims, all aged between 53 and 60, were killed and several others critically injured after a microbus carrying devotees returning from the Manakamana Temple plunged off a road in Sahid Lakhan Rural Municipality of Gorkha District on Saturday, police said.

The vehicle carrying 16 passengers fell around 200 metres down a hillside at Kantar in Ward 3 of the rural municipality. Preliminary police investigation suggests the crash may have been caused by brake failure.

Seven others were seriously injured and were taken to Chitwan Medical College for treatment. The 46-year-old driver survived the crash, while the 29-year-old co-driver sustained injuries. 

Police say further investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.

The Gorkha crash comes less than a month after a major highway tragedy in Dhading, where a passenger bus travelling from Pokhara to Kathmandu veered off the Prithvi Highway and plunged about 200 metres down to the banks of the Trishuli River, killing 19 people and injuring 25 others.

Following the Dhading disaster, the government formed a five-member investigation committee under a joint secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs to examine the causes of the crash and recommend safety measures.

According to officials, the probe panel has recommended stricter enforcement of traffic and transport regulations, stronger oversight of transport operators and drivers, and improved monitoring and management of highways to prevent similar incidents. Authorities have also stressed holding responsible agencies and transport operators accountable for negligence.

Nepal witnesses frequent road accidents due to a combination of factors, including difficult terrain, poor road conditions, mechanical failures and weak enforcement of safety regulations.