At least 17 people were killed on Thursday when a jeep skidded off a hilly road and plunged about 700 metres into a gorge in Nepal’s Rolpa district, police said.
The vehicle went off the road in the Thawang area of Rolpa, according to local reports. The jeep was travelling from Rukum East when it met with the accident at Jaljala in Thawang Rural Municipality-1. Police said rescue operations were underway as rain and difficult terrain complicated efforts at the crash site.
Officials said the road conditions were slippery at the time of the accident, with muddy stretches and heavy rainfall making travel dangerous in the hill district. Early reports also said the vehicle plunged deep into the gorge after skidding off the narrow road.
The accident has drawn attention to the continuing safety risks on mountain roads in Nepal, where steep gradients, poor weather and difficult terrain often contribute to fatal crashes. Authorities were still working to complete rescue and recovery efforts as the area remained affected by rain.
Local police confirmed the death toll at 17, while emergency responders and residents assisted at the site. The full details of the passengers and the final cause of the crash were still being examined as officials continued their investigation.