Kathmandu, February 23: A tragic road accident occurred in the central district of Dhading, Nepal, where a bus carrying passengers fell into the Trishuli River. According to local media reports, the incident has resulted in the deaths of 18 individuals.
A senior official from the Dhading District Administration Office stated that the bus, which was en route to Kathmandu from western Pokhara, plunged approximately 300 meters down the riverbank around 1:30 AM on Monday.
Chief District Officer Bijay Raj Subedi confirmed that 17 bodies have been sent for medical confirmation, and 27 other injured passengers have been transported to various local hospitals and facilities in Kathmandu for treatment.
The bus was reported to have been operating within its lane, and the cause of the accident is still under investigation. District officials confirmed that there were 44 people on board at the time of the incident.
Rescue operations were initiated, involving the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police, and local residents. However, the operation faced delays due to nighttime conditions, challenging terrain, and a lack of rescue equipment. The first phase of the rescue operation was completed around 6:30 AM.
According to the Kathmandu Post, District Traffic Police Officer Shishir Thapa reported that the death toll has reached 18, and 25 injured passengers have been sent to hospitals for treatment.
Road accidents have been on the rise in Nepal in recent years, coinciding with an increase in the number of vehicles on the roads. The Traffic Police Office noted that a decade ago, there were 4,999 reported road accidents. In the fiscal year 2024-25, 7,669 road accidents and 190 fatalities were recorded, with 278 of these considered serious.
The World Bank has indicated that the economic cost of road injuries in Nepal has tripled since 2007, amounting to 1.5 percent of the Gross National Product. The impact of road accidents is particularly severe on the poor, with over 70 percent of those killed being vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.