Nine Victims Identified in Deadly Bus Crash on Prithvi Highway in Dhading

Kathmandu. Nine of the 19 people who died in the bus accident in Bhaisigouda, Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality-5, Dhading, along the Prithvi Highway, have been identified.

According to information provided by the District Police Office, Dhading, the passenger bus with registration number Ga 2 Kha 1421, traveling from Pokhara towards Kathmandu, lost control early Monday morning and fell about 200 meters down the road to the banks of the Trishuli River, causing the accident.

The identities of the other 10 deceased in the accident have not yet been determined.

Among those identified among the deceased are nine people, including one foreign national. Those who lost their lives include 24-year-old British citizen Stewart Dominic Ethan, approximately 40-year-old Bibek Bastola from Pokhara Metropolitan City-30, Kaski, 63-year-old Chandra Bahadur Kunwar, originally from Waling, Syangja, and currently residing in Nagarjun, Kathmandu, 40-year-old Om Kumar Malla from Byas Municipality-4, Tanahun, and 30-year-old Engineer Thakuri from Tripura Sundari Rural Municipality-4, Dhading.

Similarly, police stated that 55-year-old Bishnumaya Dhakal from Shukragandaki Municipality-7, Tanahun, 42-year-old Lopsang Gole from Baudha Tusal, Kathmandu, 45-year-old Hari Prasad Sigdel from Bhimad Municipality-6, Tanahun, and 55-year-old Navin Shrestha from Tansen Municipality-2, Palpa, have also been identified.

Among the 10 remaining unidentified deceased, there are 7 males and 3 females. One of the males died while undergoing treatment at the National Trauma Center in Kathmandu.

According to the police, the bus was carrying a total of 44 passengers, including the driver: 29 males and 15 females. Upon receiving news of the accident, which occurred around 1:30 AM, rescue operations were immediately initiated in coordination with Nepal Police, the Nepali Army, the diving team deployed from the Armed Police Force's Disaster Management Training Academy in Kurintar, and local residents.

Twenty-five people injured in the accident are currently receiving treatment at various hospitals. The injured rescued from the scene were initially sent for treatment at the Highway Community Hospital in Malekhu, the Teaching Hospital Malekhu, and the District Hospital in Dhadingbesi.

Seriously injured individuals were brought to Kathmandu for further treatment. Currently, 14 injured are being treated at the National Trauma Center in Kathmandu, 10 at National Medical College in Kalanki, and 1 at the Teaching Hospital in Malekhu.

The District Police Office, Dhading, stated that a detailed investigation into the incident is ongoing.