At least 17 people have died and 24 others were injured after a bus traveling from Pokhara to Kathmandu fell near the bank of the Trishuli River in Dhading.
The bus (registration number Ga 2 Kha 1421) met with the accident at around 1:30 am near Charaundi in Benighat-Rorang Rural Municipality, Dhading. The vehicle reportedly plunged about 300 meters down from the road to the riverbank.
According to the Armed Police Force, the bodies of all 17 deceased remain at the accident site. So far, the bodies of 13 men and 4 women have been recovered.
It is estimated that at least 46 passengers were on board at the time of the accident. The 24 injured passengers have been rescued and sent to various hospitals for treatment, informed Armed Police Force spokesperson DSP Shailendra Thapa. Rescue teams are using boats to bring passengers to the riverbank and then transporting them to hospitals by ambulance.
Joint rescue operations are being carried out by the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police. Security personnel stated that rescue efforts have been challenging due to the difficult terrain and nighttime conditions.
A team led by the Chief District Officer has also reached the incident site. A rescue team under the leadership of DSP Sunil Giri from the Disaster Management Base in Adamghat, along with another team including divers from the Disaster Management Training School in Kurintar, has been deployed.
Further details regarding the cause of the accident are yet to be determined.
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