19 killed as tourist bus falls into river in Nepal

A passenger bus carrying tourists from Pokhara to the capital Kathmandu met with an accident, killing 19 people, according to police.

The bus lost control and plunged into the Trishuli River in Dhading district on Monday morning. A total of 44 passengers, including the driver, were on board. Among them, 19, including a British national, lost their lives. Twenty-five others were injured.

Nepalese authorities said they are investigating to determine the details of the accident. Police said nine of the deceased have been identified. The injured include citizens of China and New Zealand. They have been admitted to hospitals in Kathmandu.

Police spokesperson Abhinarayan Kafle said 17 died at the scene. The remaining two died while receiving treatment.

In July 2024, two buses were swept off the highway into the same river due to a landslide, killing over 50 passengers. Fatal road accidents are common in the Himalayan nation of Nepal, primarily due to dilapidated roads, lack of proper vehicle maintenance and reckless driving.