At least 19 killed after bus plunges into river in Nepal

At least 19 people were killed after a passenger bus veered off a mountain highway in Nepal and plunged into an icy river early Monday, police said.

The bus, carrying 44 people, was travelling from the tourist hub of Pokhara to the capital, Kathmandu, when it fell more than 200 metres into the Trishuli River in Dhading district.

“Out of 44, in total 19 people died, and 25 are undergoing treatment,” senior local police officer Prakash Dahal told AFP. He confirmed that one British citizen was among those killed.

According to Dahal, a Chinese national and a New Zealander were among the injured, though further details about their conditions were not immediately available.

Mohan Prasad Neupane, information officer at the district administration office, said rescue operations were completed by dawn. The injured were taken for medical care at nearby facilities.

The Trishuli River has been the site of previous tragedies. In July 2024, two buses carrying more than 50 passengers were swept into the same river following a landslide.

Deadly road accidents are frequent in the Himalayan nation, often blamed on hazardous terrain, poorly maintained vehicles and reckless driving.