At least 10 killed as passenger van plunges 700 metres into gorge in central Nepal

The crash

A passenger van left a mountain road in Makawanpur district, central Nepal, on the morning of Thursday, 12 November 2026, and rolled about 700 metres down a steep slope. It came to rest near Chisapani Gadhi in the rural area of Bhimphedi, about 60 kilometres southwest of Kathmandu, according to AP. Europa Press, citing The Kathmandu Post and police sources, described the vehicle as an electric minibus. The cause of the crash has not been established, and police are investigating.

Victims and rescue

At least 10 people died and five were injured, according to the reports published on Thursday. The dead include five men, among them the driver, three women and two minors. Rescue teams located a three-year-old boy alive on a slope close to the crash site. Police from a nearby station were able to take the survivors to hospitals, where the five injured are receiving medical treatment.

Men, including the driver5

Women3

Minors2

Men, including the driver

5 people

Women

3 people

Minors

2 people

Data from the article text

Context from the reports

AP noted that Nepal is celebrating the Tihar festival this week, with many people travelling to their families' homes. The same report said road accidents in Nepal are often blamed on poorly maintained roads and vehicles, and that much of the mountainous country is crossed by narrow roads.

Differing details

The reports give different locations relative to the capital. AP placed the site about 60 kilometres southwest of Kathmandu, while a Portuguese report put Makawanpur about 80 kilometres south of the capital. The death toll has been consistent across the reports, at least 10, but the figure is a count from the first hours and may change as the investigation and hospital treatment continue.