Bus Carrying Wedding Party Plunges Off Cliff in Baitadi, Killing 13
Dhangadhi. It was Thursday evening. In Bhavane, Purchaudi Municipality-7, Baitadi, the wedding celebration had concluded, and the wedding procession team was preparing to return to Bajhang.
After taking the bride, relatives of the groom and villagers boarded the bus, happily exchanging sentiments. The destination was Bithadchir in Bajhang.
However, that happiness did not last long. Shortly after the journey began, the atmosphere of joy turned into screams and wails.
Thirteen people lost their lives when the Pawan Doot Transport bus, Sudurpaschim Province 02-001 Kha 1119, carrying the wedding party, fell about 200 meters down from a bend in Badgaon, Purchaudi Municipality-7. This accident has plunged both Purchaudi in Baitadi and Bithadchir in Bajhang into mourning. Furthermore, the entire Sudurpaschim Province is currently stunned.
According to the police, the accident occurred between approximately 7:30 PM and 8:00 PM on Thursday night. As it was already dark and the mountain road had difficult turns, it took some time for the news of the accident to be received and for the rescue team to arrive. DSP Deepak Kumar Ray of the District Police Office, Baitadi, stated that it was already 8 PM when the police were informed.
“As soon as we received the news, our team, along with personnel from the local police post, area police office, and Armed Police Force, reached the scene,” DSP Ray said, “Due to the nighttime, geographical remoteness, and the cliffside road, rescue operations were very difficult. We used torches and the help of locals to rescue the injured.”
Since the bus fell far below the road, the injured were scattered on the cliffside. Police and locals carried the blood-soaked injured to the road. Within a short time after the rescue began, six people died on the spot, while others succumbed during treatment.
The accident site, Badgaon bend, is a narrow and winding section of the mountain road. Preliminary investigation suggests that the bus fell from the road while attempting to reverse at the bend.
“The road is very narrow. It appears the driver tried to back up and move forward after failing to navigate the turn. While reversing, the rear part of the bus went towards the cliff, and the bus lost control and fell down,” DSP Ray explained.
Approximately 50 people were on the bus at the time of the accident. The police are conducting a detailed investigation into whether the bus was old or if there was a mechanical failure. The driver sustained minor injuries and is currently in police custody.
- Tragedy in One Family
Most of the deceased were close relatives of the groom. Among those who lost their lives in the accident were 42-year-old Narendra Raj Joshi and 41-year-old Bishnudatta Joshi, who were real brothers. They were the groom's uncles. The fall of these two pillars from the same house has been a major blow to the Joshi family. Narendra Raj was a technical assistant for Bithadchir Rural Municipality, while Bishnudatta was a teacher at Mahadev Secondary School.
Their elder brother's son (nephew), 35-year-old Basantaraj Joshi, also died in the same accident. Basantaraj was an agricultural technician. He was also serving as the Ward Secretary for Ward No. 1, Balanch, in Shailshikhar Municipality, Darcula.
Similarly, 60-year-old Mohandev Bhatt and his son Keshavraj Bhatt from Kedarsyu Rural Municipality in Bajhang also died in the same accident. When the bodies of the father and son, who had gone to the wedding together, returned home, silence descended upon the village.
The bride's own 14-year-old brother, Sushil Joshi, also died in the accident. Sushil, who boarded the wedding bus to enjoy his sister's wedding, also lost his life in the same crash.
- Groom and Bride Safe but Mentally Distressed
The groom and bride were not on that bus. They were traveling in a separate smaller vehicle (car) and are safe. The groom and bride were in a separate vehicle ahead. While they did not suffer physical injuries, relatives say they are severely mentally distressed following the accident.
- Details of the Deceased and Injured
According to the latest police report, the death toll from the accident has reached 13. Six people died at the scene, two at the health post, and five died while being brought to Dadeldhura Hospital.
Other deceased individuals include 40-year-old Keshavraj Joshi, 13-year-old Ashokraj Joshi, 18-year-old Bisnadatta Joshi, 27-year-old Deepakraj Joshi, and 45-year-old Kisnadatta Joshi, all from Bithadchir-7, Bajhang; 40-year-old Basantaraj Ratala from Jayaprithvi Municipality-7, Bajhang; and 40-year-old Pushpa Awasthi from Purchaudi-7, Baitadi.
The injured have been rescued and sent to various hospitals. According to DSP Ray, seven seriously injured individuals have been referred to Dhangadhi. Twenty-three people are receiving treatment in Dadeldhura, while four are being treated at the Deulek Health Center in Bajhang.
Baitadi Police stated that they are conducting further investigation into the incident. DSP Ray informed that the exact cause of the accident and how such a massive loss occurred will be revealed after a detailed investigation. The bus was completely wrecked in the accident.
This specific news has been automatically translated by AI. As a result, there may be some inaccuracies or language errors.
