At least 63 individuals were reported missing in Nepal on Friday following a devastating landslide triggered by heavy monsoon rains. The incident occurred in the central district of Chitwan, where two buses were swept off a highway and into the swollen Trishuli river, authorities confirmed.
According to district official Khimananda Bhusal, the buses were carrying a total of 66 people. Fortunately, three passengers managed to escape before the buses plunged into the river and are currently receiving medical treatment. Rescue operations, involving numerous search and rescue personnel, are underway at the site to locate any survivors.
“We are not certain of the exact number of passengers as the buses may have picked up additional individuals along the way,” Bhusal remarked. “The river’s high water levels have complicated search efforts, and no other individuals have been found thus far.”
The tragic incident occurred along the Narayanghat-Mugling highway, approximately 100 kilometers west of Kathmandu, around 3:30 AM local time. One of the buses was traveling from Kathmandu to Gaur in Rautahat district, while the other was en route to Kathmandu from Birgunj in southern Nepal.
In a separate incident on the same highway, a driver lost his life when a boulder struck his bus. Despite receiving treatment at a hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed condolences over the incident through a social media platform and directed government agencies to intensify efforts to locate and rescue the missing passengers.
Deadly accidents are unfortunately common in Nepal due to poorly constructed roads, inadequate vehicle maintenance, and reckless driving practices. Government statistics indicate nearly 2,400 fatalities on Nepalese roads in the 12 months leading up to April.
The monsoon season exacerbates road travel hazards across Nepal, with landslides and floods being frequent occurrences. Since the onset of the monsoon in June, natural disasters including floods, landslides, and lightning strikes have claimed the lives of 88 people across the country, as reported by police figures.
