Simaltal Landslide Update: 149 APF personnel mobilised to search for missing bus passengers; 5 bodies found, 3 identified
KATHMANDU: The Armed Police Force (APF), Nepal has mobilised 149 personnel for search and rescue operations in response to the incident where two buses were swept away into the Trishuli River by a landslide in Chitwan district last Friday.
The two buses (Bagmati State-03-006Kh 1516) en route from Brigunj to Kathmandu and (Bagmati State-03-001Kh 2495) en route from Kathmandu to Gaur were washed away by a landslide into Trishuli River at Simaltal, Bharatpur Metropolitan City-29, at around 3:00 am. It is said that the two buses were carrying 38 and 27 passengers respectively.
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According to APF Nepal's joint spokesperson and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Shailendra Thapa, 79 personnel, including 11 divers, are working under the command of DSP at the APF Disaster Management Training Academy in Kurintar.
The APF has deployed its personnel along the Trishuli River's banks to search for the missing passengers. The Nepali Army and Nepal Police personnel have also joined the search efforts.
Despite the challenging conditions — high water volume and murky river water — the search operation continues. Security personnel are using drone cameras, sonar equipment, and other tools to locate the missing passengers.
As of now, five bodies have been recovered, and the identities of three victims have been established as Bikas Pariyar (22) from Madi Municipality-1; Ramit Kushar Majhi (19) from Barahathawa Municipality-3, Sarlahi district; and Rishipal Saha (28) from Barginiya Jamuhawa, Sitamadi, Bihar, India.
Chitwan's Chief District Officer, Indra Dev Yadav, has emphasised the significant mobilisation of security personnel for the search operation, focusing on the incident site at Simaltal and along the downstream Narayani River.
The search for the missing bus and passengers continues today, although the bus wreckage has not been located yet.
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