At least eight individuals lost their lives in a tragic bus accident during a wedding procession in Baitadi district, far-western Nepal. The incident occurred on Thursday evening when the bus carrying the procession crashed in Purchaudi Municipality. Deputy Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar Rae mentioned that the bus was returning with the wedding group at around 8 pm.
Reportedly, 45 people sustained injuries, with 16 of them receiving treatment at local health posts while the rest were transferred to hospitals with better medical facilities. Fortunately, the bride and groom were unharmed as they were traveling in a separate vehicle. The exact cause of the accident remains unknown as per the police’s initial assessment.
Chief District Officer Krishna Thapa stated that nearly 60 passengers were onboard the bus when the accident happened on Thursday night. A joint rescue operation involving the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and local residents was promptly conducted. The incident sheds light on the increasing number of road accidents in Nepal due to the surge in vehicles and enhanced road connectivity across the nation.
In the fiscal year 2024–25, Nepal witnessed 7,669 road accidents and 190 fatalities, with 278 incidents classified as severe. Beyond the human toll, road safety issues also have significant economic repercussions. A World Bank study highlighted that the economic burden of road traffic injuries in Nepal has tripled since 2007, amounting to 1.5% of the gross national product.
