18 Killed After Bus Travelling From Pokhara To Kathmandu Plunges Into Trishuli River In Nepal

Last Updated:February 23, 2026, 09:07 IST

Rescue teams in Nepal continued search and recovery operations after a passenger bus fell into the Trishuli River near Gajuri, leaving at least 18 people dead.

At least 18 people were killed after a passenger bus plunged into the Trishuli River near Gajuri in Nepal’s Dhading district early Monday morning.

The accident left at least 26 passengers injured, triggering a large-scale rescue and recovery operation involving multiple security agencies.

According to news agency PTI, the bus was travelling towards Kathmandu from Pokhara when it veered off the Prithvi Highway and fell into the river at around 1.30 am.

The crash occurred approximately 90 kilometres west of Kathmandu, a stretch of road frequently used by long-distance passenger vehicles connecting major cities in the country.

Bishnu Prasad Bhatta, spokesperson for the Armed Police Force, confirmed the casualty figures and provided details of the ongoing rescue operations.

As quoted by PTI, Bhatta said that 17 bodies had been recovered from the accident site while rescue teams managed to pull out dozens of injured passengers from the wreckage.

He further stated that 28 injured passengers were rescued and shifted to different hospitals for treatment.

Medical teams are currently attending to those injured, while authorities continue efforts to locate any remaining victims in the river.

Personnel from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police were mobilised immediately after the incident to carry out search, rescue and recovery operations.

Rescue teams worked through the early morning hours amid challenging conditions to retrieve victims and assist survivors.

Officials also confirmed that foreign nationals were among those affected in the accident.

One male passenger from New Zealand was among those killed.

Additionally, two foreign nationals, a Japanese woman and a Dutch woman, were reported injured in the incident and are receiving medical care.

Authorities have not yet determined the exact cause of the crash. However, police suspect that overspeeding may have been a contributing factor behind the tragedy.

Investigations are currently underway to ascertain the circumstances that led to the bus losing control and plunging into the river.

The Trishuli River corridor along the Prithvi Highway has witnessed several accidents in the past due to difficult terrain and challenging driving conditions, and officials are expected to examine technical and human factors as part of the probe.

News world 18 Killed After Bus Travelling From Pokhara To Kathmandu Plunges Into Trishuli River In Nepal

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