Dozens missing after landslide sweeps away 2 buses in central Nepal

ByRishav Kothari
Dozens missing after landslide sweeps away 2 buses in Central Nepal

Image credit: Nepal Armed Police

A landslide caused by heavy rains swept two buses carrying over sixty passengers along the Madan-Ashrit highway in central Nepal early July 12, 2024. Latest reports suggest 3 survivors and 51 missing.

A landslide swept away 2 buses along the Madan-Ashrit highway in central Nepal at around 03:30 local time (LT) on July 12, 2024. The landslide was caused by the heavy rains hitting the Himalayan nation for the past month.

“As per the preliminary information, both the buses were carrying a total of 63 people, including the bus drivers,” said Indradev Yadav, chief district officer of Chitwan.

The buses were swept into the swollen Trishuli River causing over 60 people to go missing, according to a report by The Times of India.

3 people managed to survive after having swum to safety but rescue personnel haven’t found any traces of the buses, which are thought to have been swept downstream and submerged by the fast-flowing river.

The heavy monsoon made the river swollen, and the water took up a muddy brown color making it harder to detect the wreckage.

Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane told parliament that 51 passengers were missing and more than 500 rescue personnel have been assigned to the search operation, according to the latest report by the Associated Press

The relentless rain and more landslides are hampering the rescue operations.

Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has called for all government agencies to join in the search and rescue operation.

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of nearly five dozen passengers and the loss of property due to floods and landslides in different parts of the country when a bus was washed away by a landslide on the Narayangadh-Muglin road section. I direct all agencies of the government, including the home administration, to search and effectively rescue the passengers,” said the prime minister in his recent post on X.

References:

1 2 buses swept by landslide on Nepal highway, 6 Indians among 60 people missing – TOI – July 12, 2024

2 2 buses carrying more than 50 people were swept into a river by a landslide in Nepal- AP – July 12, 2024

3 Dozens missing as landslide sweeps buses into river in Nepal – BBC – July 12, 2024

Rishav Kothari is Editor-in-Chief of The Watchers, where he runs the newsroom and covers earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather and space weather.

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