Nepal Bus Tragedy: 18 Killed After Passenger Vehicle Plunges into Trishuli River
Passenger bus from Pokhara to Kathmandu plunges 300 metres; 44 onboard, probe underway
Nepal, Feb 23 : At least 18 people lost their lives after a passenger bus travelling from Pokhara to Kathmandu plunged nearly 300 metres into the Trishuli River in Nepal’s Dhading district early Monday morning.
The crash occurred around 1:30 am in the Bhaisigauda area of Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality. Authorities confirmed that 44 passengers were aboard at the time of the incident.
Cause of crash yet to be determined
Officials said the vehicle veered off the roadway and tumbled down a steep slope before landing near the riverbank. The precise reason behind the accident remains under investigation.
Dhading’s Chief District Officer Bijaya Raj Subedi stated that the bus was moving within its designated lane when the mishap occurred. The initial phase of rescue operations concluded around 6:30 am.
Night-long rescue amid challenging conditions
Personnel from Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and the Nepali Army, along with local volunteers, carried out rescue efforts through the night. Operations were hampered by darkness, rugged terrain and limited rescue equipment.
Injured passengers were transported to hospitals in Dhading and later shifted to medical facilities in Kathmandu for further treatment.
Rising road safety concerns
The tragedy highlights growing concerns over road safety in Nepal. Traffic Police data shows accidents have increased significantly over the past decade. From 4,999 recorded cases ten years ago, the number rose to 7,669 in the fiscal year 2024–25, with 190 fatalities reported.
A World Bank study has estimated that road traffic injuries now cost Nepal around 1.5 per cent of its gross national product, with vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists accounting for over 70 per cent of fatalities.
