In a tragic turn of events, rescuers have recovered 11 bodies from a river after two buses, filled with passengers, were swept away by a landslide, officials reported on Monday. The recovery efforts have been challenging, with bodies being found at various locations along the riverbanks as the search for the missing buses and passengers continues.
Khima Nanda Bhusal, a government administrator, confirmed that seven of the bodies have been identified and their families notified. Among the deceased, three were Indian nationals and the remaining four were from Nepal.
The incident occurred on Friday morning near Simaltal, approximately 120 kilometers west of Kathmandu. The buses were traveling on a critical highway that connects Nepal’s capital to the southern regions of the country when the landslide struck, pushing the vehicles into the river.
The first body was recovered on Sunday, about 50 kilometers downstream from the accident site. Improved weather conditions on Saturday allowed search teams to cover more ground and make significant progress in their efforts. With the heavy equipment clearing much of the debris from the landslides blocking the highway, rescuers have been able to expand their search further south, where the initial body was discovered, Bhusal explained.
In response to the disaster, the government has enforced a ban on passenger buses traveling at night in areas with active weather warnings, as announced by the Home Ministry. This measure aims to prevent similar tragedies in the future, ensuring the safety of travelers in regions prone to such natural calamities.
Khima Nanda Bhusal, a government administrator, confirmed that seven of the bodies have been identified and their families notified. Among the deceased, three were Indian nationals and the remaining four were from Nepal.
The incident occurred on Friday morning near Simaltal, approximately 120 kilometers west of Kathmandu. The buses were traveling on a critical highway that connects Nepal’s capital to the southern regions of the country when the landslide struck, pushing the vehicles into the river.
The first body was recovered on Sunday, about 50 kilometers downstream from the accident site. Improved weather conditions on Saturday allowed search teams to cover more ground and make significant progress in their efforts. With the heavy equipment clearing much of the debris from the landslides blocking the highway, rescuers have been able to expand their search further south, where the initial body was discovered, Bhusal explained.
In response to the disaster, the government has enforced a ban on passenger buses traveling at night in areas with active weather warnings, as announced by the Home Ministry. This measure aims to prevent similar tragedies in the future, ensuring the safety of travelers in regions prone to such natural calamities.
