A devastating landslide triggered by heavy rains in Nepal has resulted in the disappearance of two buses carrying a total of 65 passengers, including at least six Indian nationals. The incident occurred early Friday morning along the Narayanghat-Mugling road in Chitwan district, approximately 100 kilometers from Kathmandu.
According to local officials, the buses, Angel and Ganpati Deluxe, were swept into the Trishuli River at Simaltal area around 3:30 am local time. Of the total passengers, 24 were on the Kathmandu-bound Angel bus, while 41 were traveling on the Ganpati Deluxe bus en route to Gaur from the Nepalese capital.
The missing Indian nationals have been identified as Santosh Thakur, Surendra Sah, Adit Miyaan, Sunil, Shahnawaj Alam, and Ansari. However, authorities have expressed uncertainty about the exact count due to the possibility of additional passengers being picked up along the route.
Chitwan district official Khimananda Bhusal stated to AFP, “The river has swollen and no one else has been found yet.” Search and rescue efforts involving numerous personnel are ongoing at the site to locate survivors amidst challenging conditions.
Reports indicate that three passengers managed to escape from the Ganpati Deluxe bus by jumping out before it was engulfed by the river. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and directed immediate measures for search and rescue operations.
This incident adds to the toll of natural disasters in Nepal, with landslides and floods claiming over 90 lives since mid-June. The situation remains critical as rescue teams work tirelessly to find any survivors and provide support to the affected families amidst ongoing monsoon-related challenges.
Sources By Agencies
