Police identify Tripureshwor bus fire victim as Arjun Dong Tamang

Kathmandu, September 22, 2026 — The driver who set himself on fire inside a public bus at Tripureshwor on Monday has been identified as Arjun Dong Tamang, the District Police Range, Kathmandu, said.

Dong, who suffered severe burns after setting fire to the Ba 5 Kha 4274 bus operated by Riddhi Siddhi Yatayat, died while undergoing treatment at the Burn Hospital in Kirtipur on Monday night.

According to the District Police Range, Kathmandu, Dong was a resident of Sisneri in Indrasarovar Rural Municipality-3, Makwanpur. A preliminary investigation has established his date of birth as October 23, 2000.

The incident occurred around noon at the bus stop at Tripureshwor Chowk. According to the preliminary investigation, Dong set fire to the bus following an argument with traffic police.

Dong was taken to the Burn Hospital in Kirtipur at around 1 p.m. for treatment. Police said around 90 percent of his body had suffered burns and that he died during treatment later that night.

The investigation has also found that Dong was allegedly involved in two previous incidents in which he used driving licences and identity documents issued in other people’s names.

In October 2015, Dong was allegedly involved in a bus accident in Balaju in which three people were injured. Police said he fled after the incident and was found to have been using a driving licence issued in the name of Sunil Tamang.

Similarly, about three months ago, he was allegedly involved in an incident in which he behaved indecently with traffic police in the Mulpani area. Preliminary investigation found that he had used a driving licence issued in the name of Dawa Tamang in that case, police said.

In Monday’s Tripureshwor incident, Dong was using a driving licence issued in the name of Dawa Lama, according to police.

Police initially identified the deceased as Dawa Lama after finding the licence at the scene. Further investigation established his actual identity as Arjun Dong Tamang.