20 Nepali pilgrims killed in bus accident

Dehra Dun, Aug 1 (UNI) At least 20 Nepali pilgrims returning from the Badrinath Temple were killed and six injured when the bus they were travelling in fell in the Alaknanda river near Birihi, 10 km short of Chamoli district late last evening.

Of the total 38 Nepali passengers on the bus, 12 were missing and rescue officials had reached the site of the accident this morning in an effort to locate their whereabouts, Disaster Mitigation and Manegement Centre (DMMC) officials told UNI today.

The accident occurred when bus returning from the Badrinath Temple fell into the Alaknanda river, killing 20 passengers on the spot and leaving six seriously injured.

The injured were admitted to the District Hospital Gopeshwar where their condition was stated to be serious.

All the passengers hailed from Nepal, the DMMC officials added.

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