More than 60 passengers, including 7 Indian nationals, are reported missing after two buses hit by a landslide and swept away into a swollen river in Nepal early Friday.
नेपाल: त्रिशूली नदी में बही दो बसों में 7 भारतीयों समेत 65 यात्री लापता, तलाश जारी
MyRepublica quoted officials as saying that two buses carrying 65 passengers were swept away in the surging Trishuli river after being hit by a landslide on the Narayanghat-Mugling road in Simaltal area of Chitwan district. According to Chitwan’s Chief District Magistrate Indradev Yadav, Ganpati Deluxe going from the capital to Gaur and Angel Deluxe going to Kathmandu met with an accident at around 3.30 am.
65 passengers in 2 buses…
According to officials, a bus operated by Ganpati Deluxe was going from Kathmandu to Gaur in Rautahat, carrying about 41 passengers. The second bus operated by Angel Deluxe was going from Birgunj to Kathmandu and had about 24 passengers. According to a report in the ‘Kathmandu Post’ newspaper, three passengers in the Ganpati Deluxe bus managed to escape by jumping from the vehicle.
Police said that details of 21 passengers in the Angel bus going from Birgunj to Kathmandu have been received and 7 Indians have been found among them. According to the police, six of the Indian passengers who went missing after being hit by the landslide have been identified as Santosh Thakur, Surendra Shah, Adit Miyan, Sunil, Shahnawaz Alam and Ansari. The seventh Indian victim of the accident is yet to be identified.
Rescue operation continues
According to officials, rescue operations are underway with more than 75 security personnel, but heavy rains and the rising water level of the Trishuli river are hampering the rescue effort. A diving team of the Nepali Army and Armed Police Force is searching for the buses, but they have not found any vehicles yet.
According to the ‘Himalayan Times newspaper’, officials have removed the debris from the site and temporarily opened one-way traffic. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has expressed grief over the incident of two buses being swept away in the Trishuli river and has issued instructions for a search and rescue operation on a war footing.
Prachanda expressed grief
Prachanda posted on the social media platform ‘X’ that I am deeply saddened by the damage to property due to floods and landslides in various parts of the country and the incident of buses getting swept away in the river after being hit by a landslide on the Narayanghat-Mugling road. I direct all government agencies, including the Home Department, to search and rescue the passengers.
Superintendent of Police Bhavesh Rimal said that Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel are heading towards the spot for rescue operations. Debris from landslides at various places has disrupted traffic on the Narayanghat-Mugling road. Meanwhile, in another incident, at least 11 people are reported to have died in landslides and floods caused by incessant rains in Kaski district on Thursday. (Language
Nepali PM expressed grief over the accident
Nepali PM Prachanda posted on social media platform ‘X’, “I am deeply saddened by the damage to property due to floods and landslides in various parts of the country and the incident of a bus being swept away in the river after being hit by a landslide on the Narayanghat-Mugling road. I direct all government agencies, including the Home Department, to search and rescue the passengers.” Prachanda also appealed to the people to take precautions in view of floods and landslides. Superintendent of Police Bhavesh Rimal said that Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel are heading towards the spot for rescue operations. Debris from landslides at various places has disrupted traffic on the Narayanghat-Mugling road.
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