Search for missing buses and passengers in Trishuli river continues into third day

KATHMANDU: The search for two passenger buses swept away into the Trishuli river by a landslide at Simaltal of Bharatpur Metropolitan City-29 early Friday morning has entered its third day.

Despite continuous efforts by teams from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police, there has been no sign of the missing buses so far.

The search operation, which resumed early Sunday morning, has so far recovered three bodies.

Two of the deceased have been identified as Ramit Kushar Majhi, 19, from Barahathawa Municipality-3 of Sarlahi, and Rishi Pal Sah, 28, from Bihar, India.

According to the District Administration Office, Chitwan, a large magnet is being used to trace the buses.

One bus (Province 03-001 Kha 2495) was en route from Kathmandu to Gaur carrying 27 passengers, and the other (Bagmati Province 03-006 Kha 1516) was traveling from Birgunj to Kathmandu with 24 passengers.

The incident, which occurred at 3 am on Friday, has mobilized significant search and rescue resources, but the challenges posed by the river’s depth and current have hampered efforts.

The authorities remain hopeful of locating the buses.