Police said the trailer driver, identified as Shahabuddin, was arrested at the scene. During initial questioning, he allegedly told investigators that he had fallen asleep behind the wheel, causing the fatal collision.

According to district police, the bus was travelling from the city of Pokhara to the capital, Kathmandu, when it lost control along the Prithvi Highway near Benighat, about 80 kilometres west of Kathmandu.

The vehicle, loaded with passengers and sacks of wheat, lost control and fell into a deep ditch.