17 Killed As Jeep Plunges Into Gorge In Nepal’s Rolpa

At least 17 people were killed after a jeep skidded off a hilly road and plunged nearly 700 metres into a deep gorge in Nepal’s Rolpa district on Thursday, according to local police officials. The tragic accident happened in the Jaljala area of Thawang Rural Municipality, a remote mountainous region known for dangerous roads and difficult travel conditions.

Police said the jeep lost control while travelling on a muddy road during heavy rainfall. The vehicle reportedly slipped off the narrow mountain route before falling down the steep hillside into the gorge below. Rescue teams and local residents rushed to the accident site soon after receiving information about the crash. However, rescue operations became extremely difficult because of continuous rain and poor weather conditions in the area.

According to Rolpa district police, the private jeep had been hired by local villagers travelling to attend the Baisakh Purnima festival scheduled to take place on Friday in Jaljala. Police Inspector Sunil Thapa Nepali, information officer at the District Police Office in Rolpa, confirmed that the passengers were on their way to the religious gathering when the deadly accident occurred.

Authorities stated that the exact number of passengers inside the vehicle is still not fully confirmed. Initial reports suggested that the jeep may have been overcrowded, which is common in Nepal’s remote hill districts where transportation options are limited. Officials also warned that the death toll could increase as rescue and identification work continues.

The accident once again highlighted the serious road safety challenges in Nepal’s mountainous regions. Poor road infrastructure, narrow hill routes, bad weather, and overloaded vehicles often lead to deadly accidents across the country. During the monsoon and rainy seasons, muddy roads and landslides make travel even more dangerous in remote districts like Rolpa.

Local police, emergency workers, and residents continued rescue and recovery efforts late into the evening despite harsh weather conditions. Additional security personnel were also sent to the area to support the operation and help transport victims from the difficult terrain.

Nepal has witnessed several deadly road accidents in recent years because of difficult mountain geography and weak transport infrastructure. Safety experts have repeatedly called for stronger road safety measures, better vehicle inspections, and improved emergency response systems to reduce the number of fatal crashes in remote areas