Tributes are pouring in for a young British hiker who tragically lost his life in a devastating bus crash in Nepal's Himalayan foothills. Dominic Ethan Stewart, 23, from Exeter, was among 19 people killed when an overcrowded passenger bus veered off a treacherous mountain road and plunged 200 meters down a steep slope early Monday morning.
Details of the Tragic Accident
The pre-dawn crash occurred at Behighat in Dhading district, approximately 50 miles west of Kathmandu. The bus was traveling overnight from the popular tourist city of Pokhara to the capital when it went out of control on a narrow stretch of road notorious for its vertiginous drops and tight bends. Police spokesperson Prakash Dahal confirmed the vehicle "went out of control" before hurtling down the mountainside and landing on its side on the banks of the Trishuli River.
Rescue Efforts and Investigation
Rescuers worked through the night to reach trapped survivors, but their efforts were severely hampered by the remote location and lack of proper equipment. Police superintendent Sumit Khadka told Nepal's state news agency that responders spent considerable time consoling victims while struggling with inadequate tools to cut through the mangled wreckage. The bus was carrying 44 people total, with 25 injured in addition to the 19 fatalities. Seventeen victims died at the scene, while two more succumbed to their injuries in hospital.
International Victims Identified
The crash claimed lives from multiple nationalities. Alongside British hiker Dominic Stewart, the dead 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. Stewart had just completed the challenging Annapurna Circuit trek in the Himalayas and was described by his family as a "very loving and caring young man who was happiest trekking." He would have celebrated his 24th birthday next month.
Ongoing Safety Concerns
Nepal's Home Ministry has established a five-member taskforce to investigate this latest tragedy. Vehicle accidents remain frequent on Nepal's twisting mountain roads, which are often poorly maintained and dangerous. Overcrowded buses, aging vehicles, and lax enforcement of road safety rules compound the risks. This same stretch of road witnessed tragedy last year during monsoon season when a landslide swept two passenger buses carrying more than 50 people into the same river.
The Foreign Office confirmed they are supporting Stewart's family and are in contact with local authorities. The bus's frame was completely mangled in the crash, with windows shattered from the impact, illustrating the violent nature of the accident on one of Nepal's most dangerous transportation routes.
