Nepal Bus Crash Kills Nineteen

A devastating road accident in Nepal has claimed the lives of at least 19 people, including a British tourist, after a passenger bus veered off a mountainous highway and plunged into a freezing river. A further 25 were injured, several of them critically, highlighting once again the dangers associated with travel along the country’s rugged hill roads.

The  occurred in the early hours of Monday (23 February) as the bus was travelling from the popular city of Pokhara to the capital, Kathmandu. According to officials, the  lost control while navigating a steep and winding section of road in Dhading district before plunging more than 200 metres (approximately 655 feet) into the icy waters of the Trishuli River.

Senior police officer Prakash Dahal confirmed that there were 44 passengers on board at the time of the accident. “Nineteen people have been confirmed dead, while 25 others are receiving treatment at nearby medical facilities,” he said. He further noted that one of the deceased was a British national, although authorities have yet to release the identities of the victims pending notification of their families.

Among the injured are two foreign nationals—one from China and another from New Zealand—both of whom are currently undergoing medical care. Hospital sources indicate that several injured passengers remain in serious condition, raising fears that the death toll could rise.

Mohan Prasad Nupan, information officer at the district administration office, stated that rescue operations were completed by dawn. Emergency responders, including police andLocal rescue team, worked through extremely challenging conditions, battling cold temperatures, fast current, and difficult terrain to retrieve survivors and bodies from the River.

Nepal’s mountainous highways are notorious for their hazardous conditions, including narrow lanes, sharp turning, landslide-prone slopes, and inconsistent road maintenance. Road safety experts frequently cite driver fatigue, speeding, and mechanical failures as contributing factors in such incidents. The exact cause of Monday’s accident is still under investigation, but initial speculation is that loss of control was the main factor.

The tragedy has prompted renewed calls for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and improved infrastructure in rural and mountainous regions. Authorities have pledged a full investigation into the incident and have expressed condolences to the bereaved families, while wishing a swift recovery to the injured.

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This tragic incident underscores the persistent risks of travel in mountainous regions and the urgent need for comprehensive road safety reforms in Nepal.