14 Killed, Six Injured as Passenger Vehicle Plunges into Gorge in Nepal’s Makwanpur

At least 14 people were killed and six others injured after an electric passenger vehicle plunged nearly 500 metres down a steep hillside in Nepal’s Makwanpur district on Thursday morning. The accident occurred at around 5:45 AM at Chisapani Gadhi in Bhimphedi Rural Municipality-6. The vehicle was travelling from Kathmandu to Sarlahi district when it reportedly veered off the road and fell down the slope. According to police, the passengers were returning home to celebrate the Chhath festival. Most of those travelling in the vehicle belonged to Sundarpur locality in Chakraghatta Rural Municipality of Sarlahi. The tragedy also claimed the lives of six members of the same family, adding to the devastating impact of the incident on the affected community.

Following the accident, rescue operations were conducted jointly by Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and the Nepali Army. All six injured passengers were taken for medical treatment. Of them, three have been discharged after receiving treatment, while the remaining three were referred to hospitals in Kathmandu and Bharatpur for further medical care. Authorities have formed a five-member investigation committee to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash and determine its cause. The committee is expected to look into the factors that led the vehicle to leave the road and plunge down the hillside. The investigation will seek to establish how the accident occurred as authorities continue to assess the incident and its consequences.