At least 19 people were killed and several others injured when a passenger bus veered off a mountain road and plunged into a gorge in western Nepal on February 22, 2026, authorities said.
The bus was traveling through a hilly region when the driver reportedly lost control, sending the vehicle tumbling down a steep slope. Rescue teams worked through difficult terrain to retrieve bodies and transport the injured to nearby hospitals. Local officials said some survivors remain in critical condition.
Police have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, though preliminary reports suggest poor road conditions and challenging mountain terrain may have contributed. Overloaded vehicles, aging buses, and hazardous roads are longstanding safety concerns in Nepal, where traffic accidents are frequent.
Deadly bus crashes are not uncommon in the Himalayan nation, particularly in rural areas where narrow, winding roads and limited guardrails increase the risk of serious accidents.
