Over four dozen Nepali pilgrims -- almost all from Dhanusha district -- were also injured when the bus (Ja 1 Kha 678) fell about 35 feet from the road at Piparadhi Bazaar of Sitamadhi district in Bihar, India.[break]
The deceased have been identified as Biltun Devi Mandal, 46, and Koushalya Devi Sah, 47, of Satoshar VDC-9, Dhanusha; Arun Yadav, 24, Dharmanath Yadav, 49, of Balabakhar-1, and Manoj Raya, 25, of Bhutahipaterwa Sisampur; Ramdayal Raya, 37, of Thilla; and Kasindra Yadav, 18, of Paterwa-5.
Among the injured, Sonawati Devi Yadav, 60, Ranibati Kapar, 50, Khadani Devi Mandal, 55, Raju Mandal, 18, Parmeshwar Shah, 35, Shivasati Devi Mandal, 57, Kumar Devi Yadav, 61, Radheshyam Raya, 27, Samundri Yadav, 58, Ramkashi Yadav, 46, Sitadevi Yadav, 40, Sumari Devi Yadav, 43, Subash Raya and Shaym Sundar Panjiyar have been admitted to the district hospital of Sitamadhi, Bihar.
Thirteen other injured pilgrims are undergoing treatment at Jaleshwar hospital in Mahottari.
According to Raju Mandal, who survived the accident, the bus with 41-seater bus was carrying around 65 pilgrims. Some pilgrims, including Mandal, were on the roof of the bus.
The bus was on back gear and it suddenly slipped off the road and fell into the Jamara River. “I was on the roof along with Arun and Dharmanath; they died but I survived,” said Mandal. “I was able to swim to safety.” According to Mandal, the local Bihar police had rescued the injured from the accident site.
Babadham or Baidyanath is located in India´s Jharkhand state. Pilgrims throng Babadham especially during Shrawan, a month dedicated to worship of Lord Shiva.
18 Children injured in bus accident
Meanwhile, according to our Birgunj-based correspondent Ritesh Tripathi, eighteen children were injured when a bus (Ba 2 Kha 723) met with an accident in Lipani Birta VDC, Parsa district on Monday. The bus was carrying 35 students. The injured students have been taken to National Medical College and Teaching Hospital at Birgunj for treatment.
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