British National Among 19 Fatalities as Bus Plunges Off Nepal Mountain Highway
A packed bus traveling to Nepal's capital Kathmandu drove off a mountain highway early Monday, resulting in the tragic deaths of 19 people, including a British national, and leaving another 25 individuals wounded. The devastating accident occurred on the Prithvi highway near Benighat, approximately 80 kilometers west of Kathmandu.
Details of the Fatal Incident
According to police reports, the bus was en route from the popular resort city of Pokhara to Kathmandu when it veered off the highway after midnight. The vehicle rolled down a steep mountain slope before coming to rest on the banks of the fast-flowing Trishuli River. Among those confirmed dead was a 24-year-old British national, as stated by the Dhading district police office. Authorities have so far identified only nine of the victims' bodies.
The injured passengers included a Chinese national who is currently receiving treatment at the National Trauma Center in Kathmandu. China's official Xinhua News Agency, citing the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, reported that another Chinese national remains missing following the crash.
Rescue Operations and Investigation
Rescue teams reached the accident site promptly after the incident occurred. Government administrator Mohan Prasad Neupane confirmed that injured passengers were extracted from the wreckage and transported to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention. Police authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the exact cause of the tragic accident.
Persistent Road Safety Challenges in Nepal
Bus accidents remain distressingly common throughout Nepal, primarily attributed to poorly maintained roads and aging vehicles. The Himalayan nation's challenging terrain, characterized by extensive mountain ranges, is predominantly connected by narrow, winding roads that present significant hazards to travelers.
This latest tragedy occurred in the same river area where two buses carrying 65 people plunged into the Trishuli River in 2024. Most passengers from those accidents were either killed or remain missing to this day. Remarkably, wreckage from one of those buses was discovered only this year, buried deep beneath river sand.
The bus involved in Monday's accident landed precariously on the banks of the rapidly flowing mountain river, narrowly avoiding complete submersion. This incident underscores the ongoing transportation safety crisis facing Nepal's mountainous regions and the urgent need for improved infrastructure and vehicle maintenance standards.
