Seven Indians Feared Dead As Landslide Washes Away Two Buses In Nepal; Over 60 Missing (Photo @DrJain21)
A massive landslide in Nepal on Friday led to two passenger buses being swept away, killing at least seven Indians who were traveling in one of the buses to Kathmandu from Birgunj. Over 64 passengers in two buses went missing in the tragic landslide caused by the incessant rainfall in the Himalayan nation. The buses slipped in the Trishuli River triggered by the landslide at Simaltal area along the Narayanghat-Mugling road in Chitwan district, India Today reports.
The two buses were pushed into the river due to a huge landslide around 3.30 am today. Around 24 people were onboard the Kathmandu-bound Angel bus, while at least 41 were travelling on Ganpati Deluxe, when they fell into the river, causing the terrible disaster.
Chitwan district official Khimananda Bhusal said that they are not sure of the total number, noting that the buses could have picked up others on the road, new agency AFP reports. The official said that the river was swollen and no one else has been found yet. A search operation is going on, and the incessant rain is hampering the rescue efforts to locate the missing buses, the news agency cited the district official saying.
Some passengers of the Ganpati Deluxe bus managed to escape after jumping out of the vehicle.
Due to the intense torrential downpour in the region, concerned authorities had closed the Narayanghat-Kathmandu road for 15 days foreseeing the potential risk of landslides. However, the was later restored.
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Nepal police and armed forces are also participating in the search and rescue operation at the site.
