Kathmandu: An Indian driver was among 15 people killed when a jeep carrying them to a pilgrimage site veered off the road and plunged down a 100 metre slope in western Nepal on Saturday.
The Indian jeep was hired by members of a family -- Nepalis living in India -- who were travelling to a holy site to dispose the remains of a kin near his birth place.
The jeep was taking them to Ridi in Gulmi district of western Nepal when the accident took place, police said. Nine women and four children were among those killed when the jeep fell down the road at Jorte of Deurali Bhire are of Palpa district, police said.
The jeep was being driven by an Indian, who was also killed in the tragedy. The Himalayan Times said the Indian was identified as 25-year-old Ashok Kumar Tiwari.
Earlier official sources said that all those killed were Indians. However, the police later confirmed that the victims included 14 Nepalese and an Indian.
The Indian embassy in Kathmandu also confirmed that only one Indian was among those killed.
Two injured passengers were taken to Lumbini Medical College Prabhas for treatment, police said. A team of police led by deputy superintendent Mira Chaudhary was dispatched to the accident site.
PTI