Overnight accident near Dhading leaves 25 injured as multi-agency rescue operation continues in difficult terrain.
KATHMANDU– At least 18 people have been confirmed dead after a passenger bus skidded off a highway and fell into the Trishuli River in central Nepal in the early hours of Monday morning.
The accident occurred at approximately 1:15 AM local time near Chinadhara, a locality within ward 3 of the Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality in Dhading district. The bus was traveling the busy Pokhara-Kathmandu highway with more than 35 passengers on board when it veered off the roadway.
According to Shishir Thapa, Chief of the District Traffic Police Office in Dhading, the death toll has currently reached 18.
Rajkumar Thakuri, Chair of the Highway Rescue Management Committee, confirmed that 25 injured passengers have been rescued and transported to nearby hospitals for urgent medical care. The condition of several injured individuals remains unknown.
A coordinated rescue operation is currently underway at the site. Personnel from the Nepali Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police, and local residents are working together to search for any remaining survivors and recover the vehicle.
Authorities have stated that the nighttime conditions are significantly complicating rescue efforts, with low visibility and the challenging riverside terrain hampering the operation.
This is a developing story. Further details regarding the cause of the accident and the identities of the victims are expected to be released as the investigation proceeds.
