In a devastating incident early this morning, two buses carrying 63 people were swept into the Trishuli River by a landslide on the Madan-Ashrit Highway in central Nepal. The incident occurred around 3:30 am amid heavy rainfall, causing significant distress in the region.
Chief District Officer of Chitwan, Indradev Yadav, reported that the buses were traveling along the highway when the landslide struck, pushing them off the road and into the river below. “As per the preliminary information, both buses were carrying a total of 63 people, including the bus drivers. The landslide swept the buses at around 3:30 am. We are at the incident site, and a search operation is underway. Incessant rain is hampering our efforts to search for the missing buses,” Yadav confirmed.
Nepal’s Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, has directed all government agencies to prioritize search and rescue efforts. In a statement on social media, he expressed his deep sadness over the incident and the loss of properties due to floods and landslides across the country. “I direct all agencies of the government, including the home administration, to search and effectively rescue the passengers,” Dahal posted on X.
The monsoon season has been particularly harsh in Nepal this year, with at least 62 people killed and 90 others injured in rain-related incidents, according to home ministry officials. Landslides have claimed 34 lives, while floods resulting from incessant rains have taken 28 more. Seven individuals are still reported missing due to these natural calamities. Additionally, the heavy rains have caused substantial property damage, with at least 121 houses inundated and 82 others damaged, displacing a total of 1,058 households across the country.
As search and rescue operations continue, the nation hopes for a miracle for the missing passengers and prays for the safety of those affected by these natural disasters.
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