The driver injured after a bus caught fire at Tripureshwor in Kathmandu on Monday has died while undergoing treatment at Kirtipur Hospital, according to hospital officials and police.
The driver died on Monday night while receiving treatment for severe burn injuries. Reports from the hospital said he had suffered burns to most of his body.
The incident occurred on Monday afternoon near the Department of Passports in Tripureshwor. Police said the bus was carrying no passengers when it caught fire after the passengers had got off. A preliminary police investigation indicated that the driver himself had set the vehicle on fire, although the circumstances and motive remain under investigation.
Police have formed a five-member investigation committee led by Senior Superintendent of Police Ramesh Basnet to examine the incident and determine what led to the fire.
There has also been uncertainty over the driver's identity in initial police reporting. While several reports identified him as Dawa Lama of Kavre, Kantipur reported that a person contacted through the telephone number on the licence identified as belonging to Lama said he was safe, prompting police to investigate the identity further.
