18 dead, several injured in Nepal after passenger bus plunges into river in Dhading
Times of India
by TOI WORLD DESKFebruary 23, 2026
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At least 18 people lost their lives, and over two dozen others were injured when a passenger bus carrying more than 35 passengers plunged into the Trishuli River in Nepal’s Dhading district early Monday. The accident occurred near Gajuri along the Prithvi Highway, approximately 90 km west of Kathmandu, around 1:15–1:30 am. Among the victims was a male passenger from New Zealand, while a Japanese woman and a Dutch woman were among those injured. Rescue operations, involving personnel from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police, and local residents, proved challenging due to the nighttime conditions.
The bus crash site is located at Chinadhara near Charaundi in ward 3 of Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality. Shishir Thapa, Chief of the District Traffic Police Office in Dhading, confirmed the death toll reached 18, with 17 bodies recovered and 28 injured passengers送往 various hospitals for treatment. Rajkumar Thakuri, chair of the Highway Rescue Management Committee, stated that the injured were being treated at different medical facilities.
The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation, but overspeeding is suspected as a contributing factor. This incident underscores the risks associated with travel in Nepal’s mountainous regions and highlights the importance of road safety measures. The tragedy also serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by developing countries in ensuring safe transportation infrastructure, particularly on busy routes like the Prithvi Highway, which connects popular tourist destinations such as Kathmandu and Pokhara.
For global readers interested in world news and safety concerns, this incident highlights the ongoing issues with highway safety in developing nations. The involvement of foreign nationals further emphasizes the need for travelers to be aware of potential risks when visiting regions with less developed transportation networks. Authorities are working to determine the exact cause of the crash, but early reports suggest overspeeding may have played a role, underscoring broader concerns about road safety in Nepal and similar regions worldwide.
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/23/2026