Kathmandu, At least 65 people are believed to be missing after two buses were swept away by a landslide in Nepal and pushed into a swollen river on Friday, according to media reports.
The two buses carrying 65 passengers disappeared into the Trishuli river in landslides in the Simaltal area along the Narayanghat-Mugling highway in Chitwan district, news portal myRepublica reported citing officials.
Chitwan district chief Indradev Yadav confirmed the incident.
According to Yadav, the Kathmandu-bound Angel bus and the Ganpati Deluxe, en route to Gaur from the capital, met with the accident around 3:30 am.
Twenty-four people were on board the bus heading to Kathmandu and 41 on the other, police said.
Three of the passengers of the Ganpati Deluxe bus managed to escape after jumping from the vehicle, The Kathmandu Post reported.
Yadav said rescuers have started removing debris from the landslide.
Expressing grief over the disappearance of the bus in the Trishuli river, Chief Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has issued directives for immediate search and rescue operations.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of nearly five dozen passengers and loss of property due to floods and landslides in different parts of the country when a bus was swept away by a landslide on the Narayangadh-Muglin stretch of road. "I direct all government agencies, including the national administration, to effectively search and rescue the passengers," Prachanda posted on X.
The Prime Minister also expressed his grief over the loss of lives and properties due to floods and landslides in different parts of the country. He urged citizens to take necessary precautions.
Nepal Police and Armed Police personnel are heading towards the incident sites to carry out rescue operations, Superintendent of Police Bhawesh Rimal said.
Debris from landslides at several places has obstructed traffic on the Narayanghat-Mugling stretch of road.
More than 1,800 people have lost their lives in a decade due to monsoon disasters. During this period, about 400 people went missing and more than 1,500 were injured in the disaster.
The two buses carrying 65 passengers disappeared into the Trishuli river in landslides in the Simaltal area along the Narayanghat-Mugling highway in Chitwan district, news portal myRepublica reported citing officials.
Chitwan district chief Indradev Yadav confirmed the incident.
According to Yadav, the Kathmandu-bound Angel bus and the Ganpati Deluxe, en route to Gaur from the capital, met with the accident around 3:30 am.
Twenty-four people were on board the bus heading to Kathmandu and 41 on the other, police said.
Three of the passengers of the Ganpati Deluxe bus managed to escape after jumping from the vehicle, The Kathmandu Post reported.
Yadav said rescuers have started removing debris from the landslide.
Expressing grief over the disappearance of the bus in the Trishuli river, Chief Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has issued directives for immediate search and rescue operations.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of nearly five dozen passengers and loss of property due to floods and landslides in different parts of the country when a bus was swept away by a landslide on the Narayangadh-Muglin stretch of road. "I direct all government agencies, including the national administration, to effectively search and rescue the passengers," Prachanda posted on X.
The Prime Minister also expressed his grief over the loss of lives and properties due to floods and landslides in different parts of the country. He urged citizens to take necessary precautions.
Nepal Police and Armed Police personnel are heading towards the incident sites to carry out rescue operations, Superintendent of Police Bhawesh Rimal said.
Debris from landslides at several places has obstructed traffic on the Narayanghat-Mugling stretch of road.
More than 1,800 people have lost their lives in a decade due to monsoon disasters. During this period, about 400 people went missing and more than 1,500 were injured in the disaster.
