KATHMANDU: Search and rescue efforts entered a second day on Friday for a passenger Force vehicle that plunged into the Karnali River in Dailekh district, with authorities yet to locate the submerged vehicle and missing passengers.
A six-member diving team from the Armed Police Force’s No. 6 Maheshwari Brigade Headquarters in Surkhet resumed the operation at 8:00 am after nearly five hours of unsuccessful search efforts on Thursday.
According to Deputy Inspector General of Police Jayaraj Sapkota of the Karnali Province Police Office, the operation has been hampered by rising water levels, a strong river current, and poor visibility caused by muddy water. He added that rescue personnel have been deployed from the Achham side because there is no direct access to the accident site.
Police said one male victim, who was found unconscious after becoming trapped on a cliff, died while being taken to hospital for treatment. His identity has not yet been established.
The Karnali Province-registered Force vehicle (registration number 02-001 Kha 1055) had left Surkhet for Kalikot at 8:00 am on Thursday. It reportedly veered off the road at around 11:30 am in Sangetad, Chamunda Bindrasaini Municipality-7, Dailekh, before plunging about 400 metres into the Karnali River.
According to police, three passengers boarded the vehicle in Surkhet, while two more joined in Dungeshwar, Dailekh. Including the driver and co-driver, officials have confirmed that seven people were on board.
A joint rescue team comprising personnel from Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force, and the Nepal Army, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Shravan Bik of the District Police Office, Dailekh, is continuing the search for the missing vehicle and passengers.
The accident site lies about three kilometres north of the Dailekh Police Post and approximately 50 kilometres west of the District Police Office, Dailekh. Authorities said search operations will continue until the missing persons and the vehicle are located.
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