Kathmandu, February 6: A tragic bus accident occurred in the Baitadi district of Nepal on Thursday evening, resulting in the deaths of at least eight individuals. The bus was transporting a wedding party when it crashed around 8 PM in the Purchaudi municipality.
DSP Deepak Kumar Rai reported that approximately 45 people sustained injuries in the incident. Sixteen of the injured received treatment at local health centers, while the others were transferred to hospitals with better facilities.
Fortunately, the bride and groom were unharmed as they were traveling in a separate vehicle.
The exact cause of the accident is currently unknown, according to police. District Administrator Krishna Thapa stated that around 60 people were on the bus at the time of the crash. Rescue operations were conducted with the assistance of the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and local residents.
In recent years, Nepal has witnessed an increase in road accidents due to a rise in vehicle numbers and improved road connectivity. According to the Traffic Police Office, there were 4,999 recorded road accidents in Nepal a decade ago.
In the fiscal year 2024-25, the country experienced 7,669 road accidents, resulting in 190 fatalities, including 278 serious incidents.
The impact of road accidents extends beyond human loss; it also has significant economic repercussions. A World Bank study indicates that the economic cost of road accidents in Nepal has tripled since 2007, amounting to 1.5 percent of the gross national product.
Road accidents disproportionately affect the poor. Over 70 percent of those killed on the roads in Nepal are pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, according to the World Bank. The loss of income and medical expenses from such accidents can push families into deep poverty.
