63 Passengers Missing As Landslide Sweeps Two Buses Into River In Nepal

A massive landslide reportedly swept away two buses into the Trishuli River in Nepal on Friday. The buses were carrying approximately 63 passengers. ANI reported that the incident happened on the Madan-Ashrit Highway in Central Nepal at around 3:30 am. Search and rescue operations are ongoing.

At the same time, Indradev Yadav, Chief District Officer, Chitwan, told the news agency that incessant rain is hampering the efforts to search for the missing buses. Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed all government agencies to search for and rescue the passengers. “I am deeply saddened by the reports of about five dozen passengers that are missing when bus was washed away by a landslide on the Narayangadh- Muglin road section and the loss of properties due to floods and landslides in different parts of the country," wrote the Nepal PM on X.

नारायणगढ-मुग्लिन सडकखण्डको सिमतालमा पहिरोले बस बगाउँदा झण्डै पाँच दर्जन यात्रु बेपत्ता एवं देशका विभिन्न भागमा बाढी पहिरोका कारण भएको धनजनको क्षतिप्रति गहिरो दुख व्यक्त गर्दछु। यात्रुहरूको खोजी एवं प्रभावकारी उद्धारका लागि गृह प्रशासन लगायत सरकारका सबै निकायलाई निर्देशित गर्दछु।

— ☭ Comrade Prachanda (@cmprachanda) July 12, 2024

Notably, flights from Kathmandu to Bharatpur in the Chitwan district have been canceled due to weather conditions. Last week, Nepal Home Ministry officials informed that at least 62 people were killed and 90 people sustained injuries in rain-related incidents across the country since the onset of the monsoon season. Authorities also mentioned that landslides, floods, and lightning strikes are the primary causes of the monsoon-related deaths.