Simaltal landslide update: Search continues for missing buses, passengers on 12th day
CHITWAN: The search for two missing buses and their passengers continues near Simaltal in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-29, Chitwan district, on the 12th day since the incident.
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 swept away by a landslide into the Trishuli River on July 12.
Search efforts are focused on the accident site at Simaltal, extending up to Kerabari via Ghumaune. Recently, an article, likely from the wreckage of the missing buses, was spotted.
Nepali security personnel, along with a technical team of 12 individuals from India's National Disaster Response Force, are conducting the search.
Chitwan's Chief District Officer (CDO) Indra Dev Yadav reported that this morning, radar indicated a suspected article, prompting renewed search efforts.
Of the 25 bodies found previously, one of the seven unidentified bodies is unrelated to this incident, according to CDO Yadav. The total count of bodies has now decreased to twenty-four after identifying a woman from Palpa who had jumped into the river.
A joint meeting between the Chitwan District Security Committee and the Indian technical team took place last Saturday, leading to search operations beginning on Sunday morning.
Using sonar cameras, the joint search team has explored the area from Simaltal to Kabhreghat, including the Devghat region.
Among the identified bodies, 16 are male, while two are female. Additionally, 13 of the deceased are Nepali citizens, and five are Indian citizens.
(With inputs from RSS)
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