A Trekker's Journey Ends on a Treacherous Road: British Hiker Among 19 Killed in Nepal Bus Crash

The family of Dominic Ethan Stewart is remembering a young man who found his greatest joy walking in the mountains. Stewart, 23, from Exeter, was one of 19 people killed early Monday when a packed bus veered off a perilous highway in central Nepal and fell 200 meters down a mountainside. He had recently completed the demanding Annapurna Circuit trek.

Police said the bus, traveling overnight from Pokhara to Kathmandu, went out of control near Behighat. It careened down a steep slope, coming to rest on its side by the Trishuli River. The wreckage was left mangled and shattered. Of the 44 people on board, 25 were injured. The victims included tourists from China, India, and New Zealand.

Rescue efforts through the night were severely challenged by the remote location and a lack of proper equipment. “We did not have any equipment that could immediately lift or cut through the metal,” Police Superintendent Sumit Khadka told state media. “We spent a long time consoling the victims.”

The crash site is on a narrow, winding stretch of road known for its sheer drops. Just last year, two buses were swept into the same river by a monsoon landslide. Such tragedies are lamentably common on Nepal's mountain roads, where aging vehicles, overcrowding, and poor maintenance create persistent dangers.

In a statement, Stewart’s family described him as a very loving and caring young man. The Foreign Office confirmed it is supporting his family and is in contact with Nepali authorities. A government taskforce has been formed to investigate the accident.