Investigation Report on Fatal Dhading Bus Crash Submitted to Home Minister

The investigation task force formed to look into the Dhading bus accident submitted its report to Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal on Monday.

The government formed the task force after a passenger bus, bearing registration number Ga 2 Kha 1421, traveling from Pokhara to Kathmandu, plunged into the Trishuli River from Bhaisegaunda in Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality-5, Dhading, at 1:30 AM on Falgun 11, resulting in a fatal accident.

Home Minister Aryal had formed a seven-member task force, led by Home Ministry Joint Secretary Rishiram Tiwari, with the mandate to investigate the incident and submit suggestions for making road transport safe, reliable, and dependable within one week. The committee studied the matter for two weeks and submitted its report to the Home Minister today.

The task force members included Nepal Police SSP Bhubaneshwar Tiwari, Armed Police Force SSP Bharat Khanal, Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs National Federation Secretary Kiran Kumar Khadka, Department of Roads CDO Rakesh Maharjan, Department of Transport Management Director Srikanta Yadav, and Home Ministry Under Secretary Bratraj Poudel as Member-Secretary.

The task force studied and provided recommendations to the government on issues such as the cause and responsibility for the accident, the type of relief that can be provided to the families of the deceased passengers, and the steps various agencies should take to prevent such incidents in the future.

The task force concluded that the accident occurred when the vehicle suddenly went out of control and fell off the road because the driver failed to maintain effective control over the vehicle for some reason. It also cited driver fatigue, nighttime operation, and potential distraction as causes of the accident.

The task force recommended the immediate implementation of a driver fatigue management system, the enforcement of maximum working hours and mandatory rest periods for drivers operating nighttime buses, and the mandatory implementation of digital monitoring technology in public vehicles.

Receiving the report, Home Minister Aryal stated that the report would be implemented quickly. Nineteen people died and 25 were injured in the bus accident in Dhading.