On Monday (February 23), in the early hours of the morning, a major traffic accident occurred in Dhading, central Nepal. A bus carrying dozens of passengers lost control while traveling and plunged into the swift Trishuli River. It has been confirmed that at least 18 people have died and 28 others have been injured.
The bus was carrying multiple foreign tourists, with one New Zealand passenger confirmed deceased, and a Chinese citizen missing.
According to local police data, the bus was on its way from the tourist destination of Pokhara to the capital of Kathmandu. Between 1:15 and 1:30 am on Monday, the vehicle veered off the Prithvi Highway at the Chinadhara section, tumbling into the valley.
Shishir Thapa, the chief of the Dhading District Traffic Police, confirmed to the media that the death toll has risen to 18.
Among the casualties is a male passenger from New Zealand. Additionally, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal has verified that one Chinese citizen is missing, while another Chinese citizen is injured and currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.
The list of injured individuals also includes a Japanese woman and a Dutch woman.
Reports indicate that there were over 35 passengers on the bus at the time of the incident. Mohan Prasad Neupane, a spokesperson for the Dhading District Administration Office, mentioned that most of the injured have been transferred to hospitals in Kathmandu for further treatment after receiving initial care at local hospitals.
Following the accident, Nepalese military, armed police, local police, and residents immediately launched a joint rescue operation. However, authorities pointed out that the incident occurred in the late night with poor visibility and fast-flowing river water, significantly increasing the difficulty of the rescue.
While the exact cause of the accident is still under investigation, local police initially suspect that speeding may have been the main factor leading to this tragedy. The search and rescue efforts are ongoing to locate the missing individuals.