A passenger bus travelling from Pokhara to Kathmandu plunged into the Trishuli River early Monday morning, leaving at least 18 people dead in Nepal’s Dhading district. The accident occurred near Gajuri along the Prithvi Highway when the vehicle reportedly lost control and veered off the road. More than 40 passengers were believed to be on board at the time of the crash.
According to police, at least 26 people sustained serious injuries in the incident. Rescue teams, including personnel from the Nepal Army and the Armed Police Force, rushed to the scene and launched a coordinated operation. Authorities said 17 bodies were recovered from the river, and 28 injured passengers were pulled from the wreckage and transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
At least 17 people died after a bus travelling from western Pokhara to the capital Kathmandu plunged into the Trishuli River in the central district of Dhading early Monday.#OmmcomNewshttps://t.co/CwZBLnKKrY
— Ommcom News (@OmmcomNews) February 23, 2026
Officials confirmed that one of the deceased was a New Zealand national. Among the injured were women from Japan and the Netherlands, highlighting the presence of foreign nationals on the ill-fated bus. Hospital authorities stated that several of the injured remain in critical condition.
While the exact cause of the accident is yet to be determined, preliminary investigations suggest that overspeeding may have led to the driver losing control of the vehicle. Authorities have launched a detailed probe into the incident as rescue and recovery efforts continue.