A tragic road accident in Dhading district has claimed at least 18 lives after a passenger bus veered off the Prithvi Highway and fell nearly 300 metres into the Trishuli River in the early hours of the morning.
The bus, travelling from Pokhara to Kathmandu, went off the road around 1 am near Bhaisepati in Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality-5. The vehicle plummeted down a steep slope before coming to rest near the riverbank, leaving it severely damaged beyond recognition.
Police confirmed that 27 passengers were pulled from the wreckage with injuries — among them eight women, eighteen men, and one minor girl. All injured survivors were transported to hospitals across the region for treatment, with several reported to be in serious condition.
Rescue teams from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police worked through the night in difficult conditions to locate and assist survivors. Chief District Officer Suvedi noted that workers relied on torchlights in the darkness to carry out the operation, and that a shortage of relief materials at the scene compounded the already challenging circumstances.
The Prithvi Highway, which connects Kathmandu to Pokhara along the banks of the Trishuli River, has long been considered one of Nepal's most dangerous roads. The route winds through narrow mountain terrain, with sharp bends and steep drop-offs running alongside the river for much of its length. Bus accidents along this corridor are not uncommon, particularly during nighttime hours when visibility is poor and driver fatigue is a factor.
Nepal's road network sees some of the highest accident fatality rates in South Asia, driven by a combination of ageing vehicles, overloading, poorly maintained roads, and challenging mountainous geography. Advocacy groups have repeatedly called for stronger enforcement of vehicle safety standards and rest requirements for commercial drivers.
Accidents of this scale invariably prompt calls from the public and opposition politicians for greater government accountability over road safety. While investigations into the precise cause of this crash are still ongoing, preliminary accounts suggest the bus may have lost control before going off the edge — though no official determination has yet been made.
Authorities have urged families of passengers who were on the Pokhara–Kathmandu route that night to contact local police to identify victims and locate missing relatives.
The full death toll may rise as rescue and recovery operations continue.
Leave Your Comment