2016 Nepal bus crashes
{{Short description|Fatal bus crashes in Nepal, caused by overcrowding}}
{{Notability|1=Events|date=June 2024}}
{{Old news|date=March 2024}}{{Infobox public transit accident
| name = 2016 Nepal bus crashes
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| date = 15 August 2016
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| location = (First accident) Birtadeurali, Kavrepalanchok District
(Second accident) Siddheshwar, Baitadi District
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| country = Nepal
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| deaths = (First accident) 27+ to 33+
(Second accident) 3+ to 4
| injuries = (First accident) 38+ to 42
(Second accident) 14-30
| damage = Two buses
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On 15 August 2016, two separate bus crashes in Nepal led to the deaths of several people; dozens more were injured.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/15/asia/nepal-bus-wreck/index.html|title=Nepal bus crash kills at least 33|first=Sugam |last=Pokharel|date=15 August 2016 |publisher=CNN}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/31-killed-in-nepal-road-accident/article8991184.ece|title=31 killed in Nepal road accident|date=15 August 2016|work=The Hindu}} There was speculation in the aftermath of the accidents, that miscommunication regarding the availability of government grants may have led to overcrowding on one of the buses. Days of rainfall preceded the accidents.
First incident
A passenger bus left Kathmandu on the morning of 15 August 2016, en route to Madan Kundari {{convert|55|mi|km|0|order=flip}} away in Kavrepalanchok District in central Nepal. Many were survivors of the Nepalese earthquakes of April 2015 and May 2015. Some of them were returning to their village to collect government grants to rebuild their destroyed homes that they mistakenly thought were going to be paid there. Others mistakenly thought they had only a few days left before a deadline to return to their village to sign papers to receive the grants. Overcrowding on Nepalese buses is common; as the bus travelled along its route more people boarded until many were seated on the roof and in the aisle. It was reported that almost 90 people were on the 35-seat bus. At about 1:30{{nbsp}}p.m. the bus stalled as it climbed a hill on a muddy road near Birtadeurali and rolled backwards off the road and down the hillside, falling more than {{convert|300|m}}. Some people survived by jumping off the roof before the bus fell.{{cite web|url=http://www.pri.org/stories/2016-08-17/nepal-quake-survivors-were-killed-bus-crash|title=Nepal quake survivors were killed in a bus crash|website=www.pri.org}} 27 to 33 people were killed and 38 to 42 were injured. The driver of the bus survived and was found in a tree.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/17/world/asia/nepal-earthquake-survivors-bus-crash.html|title=Bus of Nepal Earthquake Survivors Plunges Off a Road, Killing 27|date=17 August 2016|work=The New York Times}}
An investigation was launched to see why the driver lost control and whether the brakes failed.
Second incident
The second incident occurred near Siddheshwar in Baitadi District, in far-western Nepal. At about 3:30{{nbsp}}p.m. on 15 August, another bus slipped off of a high mountain road, falling {{convert|200|m}} and killing three or four people and injuring thirty.{{cite web|url=http://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/four-killed-baitadi-bus-accident/|title=Four killed, other 14 injured in Baitadi bus accident|date=15 August 2016|work=Himalayan Times}}