Kathmandu: At least seven Indian pilgrims were killed and seven others injured Saturday evening when their micro-bus veered off a steep mountain road and plunged into a deep gorge in central Nepal.

The accident occurred in the Kantar area of Sahid Lakhan Rural Municipality while the devotees were returning from the Manakamana Temple, a popular Hindu pilgrimage site. Deputy Superintendent of Police Raj Kumar Shrestha of the Gorkha District Police Office confirmed that the vehicle plummeted roughly 150 to 200 meters from the roadway.

"Seven pilgrims have been injured and have been sent to Chitwan Medical College in Bharatpur, Chitwan district, for treatment," Shrestha said. One of the injured is reported to be in critical condition, while others are stable.

Local authorities reported that the electric micro-bus was carrying more than a dozen passengers at the time of the crash. Tulasi Bahadur Shrestha, the Chief District Officer of Gorkha, noted that the vehicle was travelling toward the Anbukhaireni area of Tanahun district, though the final destination of the group was not immediately certain.

While an official investigation is underway, local officials suggested that a combination of the steep terrain, rainy conditions, and potential brake failure on the downhill route may have contributed to the disaster.

The tragedy follows a similar incident in August 2024, when a bus crash in the nearby Anbukhaireni area claimed the lives of 27 Indian pilgrims.

Nepal has struggled with a persistent rise in traffic fatalities as its road network expands. Official data from the 2024–25 fiscal year recorded 28,692 road accidents and 2,549 deaths, a significant increase from the roughly 5,000 accidents reported annually a decade ago.

A World Bank study highlighted the mounting crisis, finding that the economic cost of road injuries in Nepal has tripled since 2007, now accounting for 1.5% of the nation's gross national product. The bank further noted that 70% of those killed are "vulnerable road users," including pedestrians and motorcyclists.

With inputs from IANS