In a devastating turn during a traditional Nepali wedding procession, a bus ferrying baraat members crashed in Baitadi district, killing eight and injuring dozens. The mishap occurred late Thursday in Purchaudi Municipality, shattering celebrations in an instant.
Local police DSP Deepak Kumar Rai reported the bus lost control around 8 PM, tumbling into a ravine. Of the 45 injured passengers, 16 were treated locally while others were rushed to hospitals equipped for severe cases.
Relief swept through the families as the bride and groom remained safe in a trailing vehicle. With about 60 people crammed inside, the overloaded bus amplified the horror. Nepal Army, police, armed forces, and residents mounted a robust rescue effort under challenging conditions.
The cause remains under probe, but Nepal’s roads paint a grim picture of rising dangers. Once recording 4,999 crashes a decade back, the country saw 7,669 accidents in 2024-25, claiming 190 lives amid 278 major incidents.
Beyond lives lost, the financial wreckage is immense. World Bank analysis reveals accident-related economic damage has tripled since 2007, hitting 1.5% of GDP. Disproportionately, the poor suffer: 70%+ victims are non-motorized road users, facing crippling medical costs and income loss that entrenches poverty cycles.
Experts call for immediate action – better roads, stricter traffic laws, and awareness campaigns – as Nepal grapples with its deadly road boom. This baraat tragedy serves as a urgent wake-up call for systemic change.
