KATHMANDU: Seven people were killed in a road accident when an electric microbus collided with a passenger bus in Chitwan on Saturday morning. The van coming to Bharatpur from Hetauda crashed with the bus traveling from Dhangadhi to Kakarbhitta near Khahare Bridge on the East-West Highway.
According to District Traffic Police, Chitwan, seven people traveling in the microbus, including the driver, died on the spot, while four others in the 11-seater vehicle were injured. Passengers in the long-distance bus suffered only minor injuries and have either resumed their journey or received medical care.
Police have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash.
In a separate incident on June 16, a schoolgirl died after being struck by an electric van within the premises of Edify International School in Kalanki, Kathmandu. Police say the van overturned after the driver lost control and hit the student. She died while undergoing treatment at Shahid Memorial Hospital. Seven others were injured in the incident.
Earlier on May 14, three people died when an electric van traveling to Pokhara from Dhading veered off the road near Lame Ahal of Kaski. Eight others were injured in the incident.
Preliminary investigations suggest most accidents are caused by driver error. Common issues include drivers mistakenly accelerating instead of braking and losing control at high speeds.
These incidents are the latest in a series of accidents involving electric microbuses in Nepal. Traffic police officials have expressed concern over the growing frequency of such accidents compared to other vehicle categories. This has also sparked debate about road safety, regulatory oversight and driver competence.
Electric microbuses are often imported without strict compliance to safety or technical standards. The Department of Transport Management, which issues route permits after vehicle registration, lacks mechanisms to assess the roadworthiness of these vehicles.
Preliminary investigations suggest most accidents are caused by driver error. Common issues include drivers mistakenly accelerating instead of braking and losing control at high speeds. In some cases, vehicles have veered off roads, often due to drivers overestimating the performance of electric vehicles, especially on hilly or narrow roads.
Stakeholders have called for mandatory closed-circuit training for electric vehicle drivers to minimize road accidents. They say such programs can be developed in collaboration with traffic authorities to ensure compliance and safety.
People have also questioned the rationale behind allowing these small microbuses for public transport. “Any vehicle accident is a tragedy. But considering the recent frequency of accidents involving electric vehicles, it is heartbreaking. In my view, an 11-seater EV micro van is not suitable for public transport,” Nau Kumar Pun wrote in a social media post.
As concerns mount over the safety of electric microbuses, urgent and coordinated intervention from all stakeholders—importers, distributors and regulators—has become necessary. Improved training for drivers and strict technical oversight can help prevent further incidents and ensure the safe expansion of electric mobility in public transport.
