At least 18 people died when a passenger bus carrying 44 travellers from Pokhara to Kathmandu plunged nearly 300 meters into the Trishuli River in Dhading district early Monday morning.
The crash occurred around 1:30 am in the Bhaisigauda area of Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality. District authorities confirmed the bus was travelling in its own lane before veering off the road. Chief District Officer Bijaya Raj Subedi said the cause remains unclear.
Rescue teams from Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Nepali Army, and local residents worked through the night despite darkness, rugged terrain, and limited equipment. The first phase of rescue operations concluded at 6:30 am. Survivors were shifted to hospitals in Dhading and Kathmandu for treatment.
The incident adds to Nepal’s growing list of fatal road accidents. Traffic Police data shows accidents rose from 4,999 a decade ago to 7,669 in fiscal year 2024–25, with 190 deaths recorded. A World Bank study revealed the economic cost of road traffic injuries has tripled since 2007, now amounting to 1.5 per cent of Nepal’s gross national product. Vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, account for over 70 per cent of fatalities.
Authorities continue investigating the Dhading crash while highlighting the urgent need for improved road safety measures across Nepal.
