Indian Air Force plane airlifts bodies of 17 Indians killed in Nepal accident

A special Indian Air Force aircraft today airlifted the bodies of the 17 Gujarati pilgrims killed in a bus accident in central Nepal.

"Aircraft carrying 17 dead, 22 injured and 43 safe passengers of the 2nd bus to arrive at Ahmadabad," Indian Embassy here said in a statement.

The plane took off from the Tribhuvan International Airport at 3:25 pm local time, Birendra Shrestha, the Acting General Manager of the airport, said.

The accident happened yesterday when a bus carrying around 45 pilgrims, who were returning to Gorakhpur in India after a pilgrimage to Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, plunged some 100 metre down from the hilly road at Naubise village in Dhading district.

Forty four passengers who were travelling in another bus are also being flown to India.

At least 17 Indian pilgrims including nine women were killed and 28 others injured in the accident.