A bus carrying wedding guests plunged about 650 feet into a gorge near Budgaun village in Baitadi District, western Nepal, killing 13 people and injuring 34. Several of the wounded are in serious condition and officials warned the death toll may rise. Inspector Baldev Badu said the youngest victim was 13; six people died at the scene and seven later in hospital. The driver has been taken into custody while investigators work to determine the cause.
13 Killed, 34 Injured After Wedding-Party Bus Plunges 650 Feet Into Gorge in Western Nepal
Bus crash kills 13, injuries dozens in Nepal.Nepal Police
A wedding celebration ended in tragedy when a bus carrying guests veered off a mountain road in western Nepal and plunged roughly 650 feet into a gorge near Budgaun village in Baitadi District, local authorities and media reported. Thirteen people were killed and 34 others were taken to nearby hospitals, several in serious condition.
What Happened
According to reports from ABC News and ETV Bharat, emergency teams reached the remote site to recover bodies and evacuate the injured. Inspector Baldev Badu of the Baitadi District Police Office told local media that the youngest victim was 13 years old. He added that six people were pronounced dead at the scene while seven others later died in hospital.
Victims, Response and Investigation
Local officials said the bus was returning to the groom's home village after the wedding ceremony. The bride and groom were not aboard and survived. Rescue personnel removed bodies from the wreckage and transported the wounded to area medical facilities; some remain in critical condition and authorities warned the death toll could rise.
Nepal Police rescuing injured passengers in a fatal bus accident.Nepal Police
Police have taken the bus driver into custody while investigators work to determine the cause of the crash. No formal charges or a definitive cause have been announced as inquiries continue.
Context
News outlets compared the crash to a deadly January 2025 incident in Ethiopia's Sidama region, when a truck carrying wedding guests plunged from a bridge and killed dozens after missing the crossing. That earlier accident similarly highlighted the dangers of travel on long, winding rural roads.
Media organizations sought comment from the Baitadi District Police Office, but officials had not provided further public statements at the time of reporting.
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