At least 18 people lost their lives after a passenger bus plunged into the Trishuli River in Nepal’s Dhading district early Monday morning, triggering a large-scale rescue operation by security agencies.

Accident Near Gajuri on Prithvi Highway

The accident occurred around 1:30 a.m. near Gajuri along the Prithvi Highway, about 90 km from Kathmandu. The bus was traveling from Pokhara to the capital when it veered off the road and fell into the river.

The site contains 17 body remains which officials confirmed to have been found while rescue teams succeeded in extracting several wounded individuals from the crash site.

Rescue and Medical Response

The Nepal Army together with Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force Nepal established a rescue operation through their deployed personnel.

Medical facilities in both surrounding locations and Kathmandu have received over 20 injured passengers who require medical attention. Authorities said emergency response teams worked through the night to retrieve victims and assist survivors.

Foreign Nationals Among Victims

Officials confirmed that one of the deceased was a male passenger from New Zealand. The injured group includes two foreign nationals who consist of a Japanese woman and a man from the Netherlands.

Cause Under Investigation

The exact cause of the accident is yet to be determined. The initial findings indicate that the driver lost control of the vehicle because of excessive speed.

Authorities have launched an investigation as rescue and recovery efforts continue at the site.