At least 14 people died and 16 were injured when a bus with an Indian number plate plunged into Marsyangdi River at Anbu Khaireni of Tanahun district.

Police after preliminary enquiry estimated that there were around 40 passengers on board the bus that was en route to Kathmandu from Pokhara. However, it has yet to be officially verified. The condition of other passengers is not clear yet.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police of the Armed Police Force (APF) Shailendra Thapa, who is also assistant spokesperson of the APF, 14 bodies were retrieved from the crash site and 16 injured were rushed to local hospital.

Of the injured, 12 have been airlifted to Kathmandu through a Nepal Army chopper. One has been sent to Bharatpur, while another is undergoing treatment at Anbu Khaireni Hospital. 

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Manohar Bhatta, spokesperson for the District Police Office, Rupandehi, the bus belonging to Keservani Transport Travels entered Nepal from Gorakhpur, India, on August 20 from the Belahiya checkpoint.

The bus transported tourists from Bhairahawa to Pokhara and was en route to Kathmandu when it veered off the road and fell into the river.

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said it is coordinating with the local authorities for relief and rescue. The embassy said the bus was carrying around 43 Indian nationals.

The embassy, in a post on X, shared an emergency relief number of the embassy (+9779851107021) for contact.

More details are awaited.