KATHMANDU: A passenger bus plunged about 200 metres (650 feet) from a mountainous road in western Nepal on Monday, killing 19 people, including a British, Chinese, and Indian national, police said.
The bus, carrying 44 passengers from the tourist town of Pokhara to Kathmandu, also left 25 others injured, including a New Zealander and a Chinese national, authorities said. All the injured have been taken to hospitals in the capital for treatment. Children were reportedly among those onboard.
Police spokesman Abinarayan Kafle said 17 people died at the scene, with two more succumbing to injuries in the hospital. Rescue teams, including police, army units, and divers, were deployed to the site in Dhading district, about 80 km west of Kathmandu.
Nepalese authorities have ordered an investigation into the crash. The Home Ministry has created a five-member task force to determine the cause, while the UK Foreign Office confirmed it is assisting the family of the British victim. The 19 deceased have been identified, including a 40-year-old Chinese woman and a 32-year-old Indian man.
Road accidents are common in Nepal, where poor road conditions and narrow, mountainous paths contribute to frequent crashes. In 2024, at least 14 people died when a bus traveling from Pokhara to Kathmandu fell into the Marsyangdi River in Tanahun district.
Nepal remains a major destination for international tourists, particularly climbers heading to the Himalayas, including Mount Everest.
