The death toll from the bus accident that occurred in Dhading early Monday has risen to 19.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Prakash Dahal of the District Police Office, Dhading, 19 people have died so far after a bus (registration number Ga 2 Kha 1421) met with an accident around 1:30 a.m. on Monday on the Prithvi Highway at Bhainsigauda, Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality-5, Dhading.
DSP Dahal said that the bus lost control and plunged about 200 meters down to the banks of the Trishuli River.
Among those who lost their lives, nine have been identified.
The deceased include 40-year-old Bibek Bastola of Pokhara, 63-year-old Chandra Bahadur Kunwar of Syangja, 40-year-old Om Kumar Malla of Tanahun, 30-year-old Engineer Thakuri of Dhading, 55-year-old Bishnumaya Dhakal of Tanahun, 42-year-old Lopsang Gole of Kathmandu, 45-year-old Hari Prasad Sigdel of Tanahun, and 55-year-old Nabindra Shrestha of Palpa.
British national Stewart Dominic Ethan, 24, also died in the accident.
The identities of the remaining victims have not yet been confirmed.
One of the deceased had “Roheeit” written on his right wrist, while another had tattoos of a bat and a guitar on his right wrist.
Fourteen injured passengers are undergoing treatment at National Trauma Center in Kathmandu, while 10 others are being treated at National Medical College in Kalanki.
One injured passenger, Mari Evaide from New Zealand, is receiving treatment at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj.
The bus, belonging to Machhapuchchhre Travels, had left Pokhara for Kathmandu at 7 p.m. on Sunday.
According to the press note issued by DSP Dahal, a total of 44 people including the driver – 29 men and 15 women – were traveling in the bus.
