Two Odisha pilgrims killed in Nepal bus mishap

Khurda/Puri: Two pilgrims from Odisha were killed in Nepal after a truck hit the tourist bus they were on in Rautahat district on Monday midnight. The deceased have been identified as Charan Biswal from Malipada in Khurda and Bijay Kumar Jena, a resident of Jamuna village near Argul in Jatni.

As per reports, as many as 60 pilgrims from Khurda and Puri were in the tourist bus. The shocking incident happened when the bus was on its way from Janakpur to Kathmandu and had stopped at Paurai forest area in Rautahat district.

The truck rammed the stationary bus from behind following which the bus skidded off about 20 meters into a nearby forest. Two persons died on the spot and 21 others were injured in the mishap. The injured passengers have been admitted to different hospitals in Nepal and treatment is underway. According to sources, health condition of two other tourists from Odisha, Sarbeswar Jena and Sahadeb Jena is critical.

Following the bus mishap, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan has sent a letter to External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar seeking his intervention and assistance to victims, post mortem of deceased and facilitation of their repatriation.

"Keeping in mind the sensitivity of the matter, I seek your personal intervention in taking up the matter with concerned officials for extending all possible assistance to the victims, post-mortem of the deceased and facilitation of their repatriation," Pradhan wrote in his letter.

Responding to Pradhan's letter, Jaishankar expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and tweeted, "Our officials are constantly monitoring treatment of the injured & extending all help to their families."

Deepest condolences to the bereaved families of Sh.Jena & Sh.Biswal who lost their lives in the tragic bus accident in Nepal earlier today.Our CG&officers from @in_birgunj are at the hospital,constantly monitoring the treatment of the injured &extending all help to their families https://t.co/lneKzu6XK2

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 11, 2019