Twenty-three others were injured, of which five are in critical condition. The critically injured are undergoing treatment at Bhairahawa Medical College Teaching Hospital.
"According to police, the tractor was apparently overloaded with pilgrims and since it was pitch dark, the driver may have hit the bridge," said Chief District Officer, Nawalparasi Balkrishna Panthi over phone. Panthi said the local police could provide only this much of information and no further details were available at this point.
The CDO said two of the nine pilgrims have been identified but he could not give their names.
Triveni River is famous for religious bath. People from all over Nepal (and neighboring India) travel to Triveni for religious dip on Maghe Aunsi festival which, according to Nepali calendar, falls on Monday.
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