Tragedy struck Nepal’s Central Dhading district when a crowded bus en route to Kathmandu from Pokhara crashed into the Trishuli River, killing at least 18 people. The mishap unfolded around 1:30 AM in the remote Bhaishigauda stretch of the Prithvi Highway, sending the vehicle tumbling 300 meters downhill.
Eyewitnesses and officials described a chaotic scene as rescue teams battled darkness and treacherous slopes. Dhading’s Chief District Officer, Bijay Raj Subedi, detailed the grim toll: 17 presumed dead confirmed medically, and 27 survivors transported to hospitals across the region, including Kathmandu.
The bus was ferrying over 40 passengers when disaster hit. Nepal Army personnel, armed forces, police, and villagers mobilized for the grueling extraction operation, which wrapped its initial phase by dawn despite equipment shortages and harsh terrain.
Traffic authorities later pegged the fatalities at 18, with 25 injured receiving care. Investigations are ongoing into why the bus deviated, though it was reportedly staying within its lane moments before.
Nepal’s roads have turned into death traps amid booming traffic volumes. Official stats show accidents jumping from under 5,000 annually a decade back to over 7,600 last fiscal year, claiming 190 lives in major crashes alone. The World Bank’s analysis paints a dire economic picture: crash-related injuries now drain 1.5% of GDP, a threefold surge since 2007.
The brunt falls heaviest on the impoverished, with 70% of victims being non-motorized users like walkers and two-wheeler riders navigating perilous routes. This latest catastrophe amplifies calls for systemic reforms in road design, vehicle maintenance, and driver training to stem the rising human cost.