road accidents | road safety

10 killed as microbus carrying Chhath revellers plunges in Makwanpur

Photo used for illustrative purpose | Photo: Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka, Creative Commons

Most of the victims were from the same village in Sarlahi and were returning home from Kathmandu to celebrate Chhath when their microbus plunged nearly 700 metres off the road.

-the_farsight | Nov. 12, 2026, 3:40 p.m.

At least 10 people were killed and six others injured when a microbus carrying passengers returning home for the Chhath festival plunged nearly 700 metres down a hillside in Bhimphedi, Makwanpur, early Thursday morning.

The accident occurred at around 5:45 am near Chisapani Gadhi in Bhimphedi Rural Municipality-6 along the Bhimphedi–Kulekhani–Kathmandu road.

The passengers were travelling from Tikathali, Lalitpur, to Sundarpur in Chakraghatta Rural Municipality-4, Sarlahi, to celebrate Chhath. Most belonged to the same village and were relatives or neighbours who had jointly hired the vehicle.

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Police said the deceased included five men, three women and two girls. Two victims have been identified as driver Ravishankar Kumar Mandal of Kabilasi Municipality-8 and Subek Yadav of Chakraghatta-4. The identities of the remaining eight are yet to be established.

Six injured passengers are receiving treatment at Hetauda Hospital.

According to reports, one survivor suspected that the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel. Police have also identified driver fatigue as a possible cause, although the investigation is ongoing.

Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and the Nepali Army were mobilised for rescue operations following the accident.

The tragedy has plunged Sundarpur village into mourning, as families who were expecting their loved ones home for the festival instead received news of the fatal accident.