Two buses hit by landslide into river Trishuli in Nepal, search operation underway for missing bodies

Two passenger buses were carried into the Trishuli River due to a landslide at the Simaltal of the Narayanghat-Mugling Highway in Nepal. Around 60 people have gone missing, while three passengers managed to save their lives. The accident occurred on July 12 at about 3:30 a.m. local time.

The wreckage of one bus has been found. The search continues for the second bus and missing bodies in the river Trishuli.

District official Khimananda Bhusal said that numerous search and rescue teams are looking for survivors of the accident in the central region of Chitwan.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Bhawesh Rimal said that Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and Seema Surakshaa (Border Security) forces have arrived at the incident location to conduct search and rescue operations. The severe rainfall in the region delayed work at times, as traffic on the Narayanghat-Mugling road portion was obstructed by landslide debris.

According to the latest information, authorities are now not optimistic about finding more survivors. "Search and Rescue has now turned to a search option for bodies,” a Nepal Army official told Education Post.

One bus, Ganpati Deluxe, was traveling from Kathmandu to Gaur in Rautahat district with 41 passengers, while the other, Angel Deluxe, was heading from Birgunj to Kathmandu with 24 passengers, seven of whom were Indian.

The six Indians have been identified as Santosh Thakur, Surendra Sah, Adit Miyaan, Sunil, Shahnawaj Alam, and Ansari. The remaining one is yet to be identified.

The death toll might rise as the actual number of passengers is unknown because the buses may have picked up extra passengers on the trip. Three passengers on the Ganpati Deluxe escaped by jumping out of the vehicle and are currently being treated at a hospital.

According to Chitwan Chief District Officer Indradev Yadav, the Kathmandu-bound Angel Deluxe and Ganpati Deluxe met with an accident on their way to Gaur from the capital at 3:30 a.m.

"The buses were on the highway when the landslide hit, driving them off the road and into the river below. Both buses carried a total of 65 passengers, including the drivers. We are currently at the incident location, and a search is underway. However, the constant rain is complicating our efforts to locate the missing buses," said Indradev Yadav.

Road department officials had halted the Narayanghat-Kathmandu road for 15 days due to the risk of landslides caused by heavy rains. Despite this, traffic was restored.

Landslides have occurred in various places across Nepal as a result of severe rainfall over the last few days, forcing the closure of several roads and highways.

The Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, expressed grief at the accident and urged all government agencies, including the home administration, to search for and rescue the passengers.

"I am deeply saddened by the news of nearly five dozen passengers missing after a landslide swept away buses in Simaltar of the Narayanghat-Mugling road section and the loss caused by the disaster in different parts of the country," Dahal posted to X.

Badly designed roads, poorly maintained vehicles, and reckless driving collectively lead to deadly crashes in Nepal. According to government estimates, about 2,400 people died on the roads of Nepal in the last year.

Roadways become more dangerous during the annual monsoon season, when rainfall causes landslides and floods across the hilly region. Floods, landslides, and lightning strikes have killed 88 people across Nepal since the monsoon began in June, according to police records.

Rohit Wadhwaney in Kathmandu contributed the story.