63 Missing After Landslide Sweeps Buses into River on Nepal Highway

A devastating incident took place in Nepal on 12 July, i.e. Friday in the early hours. Two buses swept away into the Trishuli River after a landslide took place along the Madan-Ashirt Highway in Central Nepal. At least 63 people have gone missing. Among the missing people 6 people are Indian.

Nepal Police along with Armed force and other security force have launched search and rescue operation.

The two buses which involved in the incident are Kathmandu-bound Angel bus was heading to Katmandu and Ganpati Deluxe which was on the way from Kathmandu to Rautahat’s Gaur.

Angel bus was carrying 24 passenger and Ganpati Deluxe was carrying 41 passengers. Three passengers from Ganapati bus managed to escape from the situation by jumping out of the bus.

Indradev Yadav, chief district officer of Chitwan, stated, “According to preliminary information, both buses were carrying a total of 63 people, including the drivers. The landslide struck around 3:30 AM, sweeping the buses into the river. We are currently at the incident site, and a search operation is underway. However, incessant rain is hampering our efforts to locate the missing buses.”

DSP Shailendra Thapa, Co-Spokesperson of the Armed Police told ANI, “45 personnel from Armed Police Force Nepal’s 17^th Battallion Chitwan and 25 individuals, including 7 divers from the Disaster Management Training school, are mobilized at the accident scene.”

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal deeply saddened about the Nepal Landslide

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal stated via X, “I am deeply saddened by the loss of nearly five dozen passengers and the loss of property due to floods and landslides in different parts of the country when a bus was washed away by a landslide on the Narayangadh-Muglin road section. I direct all agencies of the government, including the home administration, to search and effectively rescue the passengers.”