At least 17 individuals lost their lives when a bus en route from Pokhara to Kathmandu veered off the road and fell into the Trishuli River in Dhading district early Monday. The Chief District Officer of Dhading, Bijaya Raj Subedi, mentioned that 27 others have been hospitalized for treatment in various local and Kathmandu-based medical facilities. The tragic incident occurred around 1:30 am in the Bhaisigauda area of Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality, with the cause of the accident yet to be determined.
District officials confirmed that a total of 44 passengers were onboard the ill-fated bus. The rescue operation involved personnel from the Nepali Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police, and local residents, facing challenges due to nighttime conditions, rugged terrain, and insufficient rescue equipment. The initial phase of the rescue mission concluded by 6:30 am, as reported by Subedi.
Nepal has been grappling with a surge in road accidents in recent times, paralleling the growth in vehicular traffic. A decade ago, 4,999 road accidents were documented, with the figures escalating to 7,669 accidents and 190 fatalities in the fiscal year 2024–25, according to the Traffic Police Office. Additionally, a World Bank study highlighted that the economic toll of road traffic injuries in Nepal has tripled since 2007, amounting to 1.5% of the gross national product.
