18 Killed, 26 Injured in Nepal After Bus Veers Off Mountain Road into River

Khatmandu, Feb 23: At least 18 people were killed and 26 others injured after a passenger bus traveling from the resort city of Pokhara to Kathmandu plunged into the Trishuli River in Nepal’s Dhading district early Monday morning.

The accident occurred around 1:15 AM near Chinadhara in the Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality, approximately 90 kilometers west of the capital. The bus, which was reportedly carrying 44 passengers, veered off the Prithvi Highway and fell nearly 300 meters down a steep slope before landing on the riverbank.

Rescue operations were launched immediately by a joint team consisting of the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force (APF), and local police. Despite the challenging terrain and darkness, 17 bodies were recovered at the scene, while one more victim succumbed to injuries later at a hospital. The deceased include 12 men and 6 women.

Among the casualties were several foreign nationals. Authorities confirmed that one male passenger from New Zealand is among the dead. Additionally, a Japanese woman and a Dutch woman were among the 26 rescued passengers who sustained injuries. Most of the injured have been transported to hospitals in Kathmandu for specialized treatment, while a few others are receiving care at local facilities in Dhading.

While the exact cause of the crash is still being investigated, preliminary reports from the District Traffic Police suggest that overspeeding on the narrow highway may have led the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

“The rescue mission was extremely difficult due to the nighttime conditions and the steep, rugged terrain. Our teams had to use torchlights to navigate the slope and bring survivors to safety,” stated a senior official from the Armed Police Force.

Road accidents are frequent in the Himalayan nation, often attributed to poorly maintained vehicles and the treacherous, narrow mountain roads that connect major cities.