Landslide in Central Nepal Sweeps Two Buses into River, Dozens Missing

Early Friday morning, a landslide along the Madan-Ashrit Highway in Central Nepal swept two passenger buses into the Trishuli River. Around 63 people are suspected to be missing. The swollen river and incessant rain are hampering search and rescue operations.

Details of the Incident

Indradev Yadav, Chief District Officer of Chitwan, confirmed that the landslide occurred at around 3:30 AM. The buses involved were the Kathmandu-bound Angel bus and the Ganpati Deluxe, which was heading to Gaur in Rautahat. The Angel bus had 24 passengers, while the Ganpati Deluxe had 41 passengers.

Rescue Efforts

Three passengers from the Ganpati Deluxe managed to escape by jumping out of the vehicle. Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel are heading to the site for rescue operations. However, debris from landslides has obstructed traffic on the Narayanghat-Mugling road section.

Government Response

Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed his sadness over the incident and directed all government agencies to assist in the rescue efforts. All flights from Kathmandu to Bharatpur have been canceled due to bad weather.