18 Killed, 26 Injured as Bus Plunges into Trishuli River in Nepal

Nepal: At least 18 people were killed and 26 others injured when a passenger bus plunged into the Trishuli River near Gajuri in Nepal’s Dhading district early Monday (February 23, 2026).

The bus, travelling from Pokhara to Kathmandu, veered off the Prithvi Highway and fell into the river around 1:30 a.m., about 90 km west of Kathmandu, Armed Police Force spokesperson Bishnu Prasad Bhatta said.

Seventeen bodies have been recovered from the crash site, while 28 injured passengers were rescued and admitted to different hospitals for treatment. Rescue operations are being carried out by personnel from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police.

Among the dead is a male passenger from New Zealand. A Japanese and a Dutch national, both women, were among those injured.

Police said the exact cause of the accident is yet to be determined, though overspeeding is suspected. (Agencies)