18 Killed, Over Two Dozen Injured as Passenger Bus Plunges into Trishuli River in Nepal
Dhading, Nepal: At least 18 people were killed and more than two dozen injured after a passenger bus travelling from Pokhara to Kathmandu plunged into the Trishuli River in Nepal’s Dhading district early Monday morning, authorities said.
The bus, carrying over 35 passengers, veered off the Prithvi Highway near Gajuri and fell into the river at around 1:15–1:30 am. The दुर्घटना occurred at Chinadhara near Charaundi in Ward 3 of Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality, approximately 90 kilometres west of Kathmandu.
Shishir Thapa, chief of the District Traffic Police Office in Dhading, confirmed that the death toll had risen to 18. Bishnu Prasad Bhatta, spokesperson for the Armed Police Force, said 17 bodies had been recovered from the site, while 28 injured passengers were rescued from the wreckage.
Rescue Operations Underway
Rajkumar Thakuri, chair of the Highway Rescue Management Committee, said the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Rescue teams comprising personnel from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police and local residents were deployed to the scene.
Officials said rescue efforts were hampered by darkness and challenging terrain following the nighttime crash.
Foreign Nationals Among Victims
Authorities confirmed that a male passenger from New Zealand was among those killed. A Japanese woman and a Dutch woman were reported among the injured.
Cause of Crash Under Investigation
Police said the exact cause of the accident remains under investigation, though preliminary reports suggest overspeeding may have contributed to the crash. Further details are awaited as authorities continue their probe into the incident.
