Baitadi (Nepal): A bus carrying wedding guests met with a tragic accident in Nepal’s Baitadi district, near the Indian border, late Thursday night, killing at least 13 people and injuring 34 others, police said. Several of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.
The accident triggered chaos at the site, while rescue operations were hampered due to darkness and difficult terrain. However, personnel from the Nepal Armed Police Force, local police and residents continued relief and rescue efforts late into the night.
According to officials, the bus was travelling from Bhawane village in Parchuni Municipality-7 of Baitadi district to Sunkuda in Bajhang district, carrying a wedding procession that had gone to bring the bride. The accident occurred at the Badgaon bend in Parchuni, where the bus lost balance while ascending a steep stretch of road and plunged into a deep gorge.
Baitadi District Police Office spokesperson Inspector Baldev Badu said six wedding guests died on the spot. Five others succumbed to their injuries during treatment at Dadeldhura Hospital, while two more died at Kotila Hospital. The deceased include men, women and a minor from different villages of Bajhang and Baitadi districts.
Preliminary investigation suggests that the bus was carrying passengers beyond its permitted capacity, which affected its ability to climb the steep road. Police have taken the bus driver, Varinder Budha, a resident of Bhimdutta Municipality-7 in Kanchanpur district, into custody for questioning.
The injured are being treated at Dadeldhura Hospital, while five critically injured passengers have been referred to Dhangadhi for advanced medical care. Police said the condition of several injured persons remains serious.
