A high-level meeting chaired by Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal was held in connection with last night’s tragic bus accident in Dhading.
The meeting was attended by Home Ministry Secretary Rajkumar Shrestha, Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Keshav Kumar Sharma, chiefs of security agencies, and office bearers of the National Federation of Transport Entrepreneurs. The participants paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the accident and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
The meeting decided to prioritize effective treatment for the injured and to form an accident investigation committee to determine the facts of the incident. The committee has been instructed to submit its report promptly and ensure swift implementation of its recommendations.
It was also decided to strengthen regulation in the transport sector by making regulatory bodies and transport entrepreneurs more accountable. The government pledged to strictly enforce laws to reduce road accidents and ensure responsibility among transport operators, bus drivers, and conductors.
Expressing sorrow over the loss of lives in road accidents, Home Minister Aryal directed concerned authorities to prioritize rescue and treatment efforts. He emphasized the need for effective implementation of road safety laws and strict regulation to prevent similar incidents in the future. He also instructed that those found responsible for the accident be brought under the legal framework.
Highlighting that such major road accidents could pose additional security challenges during the election period, the Home Minister urged all stakeholders to remain vigilant and fulfill their responsibilities seriously. “Negligence in road and public safety will not be tolerated. No one will be granted impunity,” he stated, adding that previous investigation reports on road accidents would be implemented and traffic management, road regulation, and monitoring along highways would be strengthened.
According to Ministry spokesperson Ananda Kafle, concerned authorities have been instructed to ensure that there is no shortcoming in the treatment of the injured. The meeting also decided to make transport management safe and effective during the election period by engaging all stakeholders responsibly.
The bus (registration number Ga 2 Kha 1421), traveling from Pokhara to Kathmandu along the Prithvi Highway, fell near the bank of the Trishuli River at Bhanse Gauda in Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality–5, Dhading, at around 1:30 a.m. Seventeen people died at the scene, and two others succumbed to injuries during treatment. Police said 25 injured passengers are currently receiving treatment at various hospitals in Kathmandu.
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