Kathmandu. A painful road accident in Nepal early on Monday has shocked the entire country. A passenger bus going from Pokhara to the capital Kathmandu lost control and fell into the Trishuli river in Dhading district. So far, 18 passengers have been confirmed dead in this tragic incident, while 25 others are injured. The accident occurred around 1:15 am on Monday in Chinadhara, Charaundi area of Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality-3 on Prithvi Highway.
According to the information received from the police, the bus was at high speed and suddenly slipped from the road and fell down a slope about 300 meters deep and went straight to the river bank. The condition of the bus was so bad that it broke down. District Traffic Police Chief Shishir Thapa said that the dead included 11 men and 6 women. Among the injured were women and men, along with a minor girl, many of whom are in extremely critical condition. As soon as the news of the accident was received, teams of Nepali Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police along with the local people got involved in relief and rescue operations. Due to the hilly terrain and dense darkness of the night, the rescue operation faced many challenges. This is the second major road accident in Nepal in recent times. Earlier on February 6, a bus returning from a wedding ceremony in Baitadi district had fallen into a ditch, in which 13 people lost their lives. These frequent fatal accidents have exposed the claims of road safety on the hilly roads of Nepal. The local administration says that the cause of the accident is being investigated, although initially bad roads, high speed and driver’s fatigue are being considered as the major reasons. Experts say that traveling long distances at night on hilly roads and ignoring safety standards often leads to such catastrophic consequences. At present, the injured are being treated in nearby hospitals and the administration is busy in the process of identifying the dead.
