A routine overnight journey from the scenic city of Pokhara to the capital, Kathmandu, turned into a scene of unimaginable horror in the early hours of Monday. A passenger bus veered off the winding Prithvi Highway, plummeting nearly 300 meters down a steep precipice before coming to a mangled halt near the banks of the Trishuli River.
A heartbreaking toll
Authorities have confirmed a devastating loss of life. At least 17 passengers, identified as 11 men and six women, died in the accident.
Among the chaos, a miraculous but somber rescue effort pulled 27 survivors from the debris, including 18 men, eight women, and one young girl. The injured were stabilized on-site before being rushed to various local hospitals, with several reported to be in critical condition.
The midnight tragedy
The accident occurred at approximately 1:00 AM local time (1945 GMT Sunday) near the Bhaisepati area in Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality-5. For reasons yet to be determined, the vehicle lost contact with the road and tumbled down the deep slope. The impact was so severe that the bus was described by first responders as “severely damaged” upon discovery near the riverbank.
The rescue mission
The rescue operation was a massive, multi-agency effort involving the Nepal Army, the Armed Police Force (APF), and the Nepal Police. Led by APF’s DSP Sunil Giri from the Disaster Management Training School, the mission faced staggering obstacles. Rescuers had to navigate the 300-meter drop in pitch-black conditions.
Chief District Officer Suvedi acknowledged that the mission was hampered by a lack of adequate relief materials, forcing personnel to work primarily by the light of handheld torches. In a desperate logistical feat, survivors were transported nearly one kilometer downstream by boat to a point where they could be safely carried up to the road and into waiting ambulances.
Bishnu Prasad Bhatta, spokesperson for the APF, confirmed that specialised divers from the Disaster Management Unit at Adamghat were also mobilized to ensure no victims had been swept away by the river’s current.
A deadly pattern
While the specific cause of this crash remains under investigation, the disaster highlights the ongoing peril of transit in the Himalayan nation. Road accidents are a frequent tragedy in Nepal, where a combination of aging vehicle fleets, crumbling infrastructure, and the inherently dangerous mountainous geography creates a high-risk environment for commuters.
As of Monday morning, security forces remain on the ground, continuing their efforts to identify the deceased and clear the wreckage from the river’s edge.