British Hiker Dies in Nepal Bus Crash: Tributes Paid

A British hiker is among 19 people killed after a passenger bus veered off a mountain road and plunged 200 metres down a steep slope in Nepal. Twenty-five others were injured in the crash, which occurred in the Himalayan foothills on Monday.

Nepal Bus Crash Claims Lives of 19, Including British Hiker

Dominic Ethan Stewart’s family said he was a “very loving and caring young man who was happiest trekking.” Stewart, from Exeter, was 23 years old and had recently completed the Annapurna Circuit.

The bus was carrying 44 people, including a number of tourists, from Pokhara to Kathmandu when the incident occurred at Behighat in Dhading district, approximately 50 miles (80km) west of Kathmandu. Police spokesperson Prakash Dahal said the bus “went out of control.”

Seventeen of the victims died at the scene, with two more dying in hospital, according to BBC Nepali. The dead also included a 40-year-old Chinese woman and a 32-year-old man from India. Among the injured were a 27-year-old New Zealand woman and a 12-year-old Chinese child.

Rescuers faced challenges reaching survivors due to a lack of equipment and the remote location. Police superintendent Sumit Khadka stated, “We did not have any equipment that could immediately lift or cut (through the metal). We spent a long time consoling the victims.”

A five-member taskforce has been established by Nepal’s home ministry to investigate the accident. The crash site is on a narrow road known for its steep drops, deep valleys, and tight bends.

Last year, a landslide swept two passenger buses carrying over 50 people into the same river during the monsoon season, with three survivors reportedly swimming to safety. Vehicle accidents are common on Nepal’s mountain roads due to poor maintenance, overcrowded buses, ageing vehicles, and lax enforcement of safety regulations.

The Foreign Office stated it is supporting the family of the British man who died and is in contact with local authorities.