2 Landslides In The River In Nepal, 63 Passengers Missing

JAKARTA - At least 63 passengers disappeared after the landslide caused heavy rains in Nepal swept two buses from the highway into the river in Chitwan District, Friday, July 12.

Chitwan District official, Khimananda Bhusal said a number of rescue personnel had been deployed to search the location to search for survivors.

"We can't confirm the total number [victims] because the bus could pick up another [passenger] on the road," he told AFP, Friday, July 12.

Bhusal said the two buses carried at least 66 passengers. However, three passengers managed to save themselves before the vehicle they were traveling in fell into the Badminton River.

Currently, survivors have received treatment at the hospital.

"The river overflowed and no other [survivors] victims have been found," he said.

This accident occurred in the Kalimantan River which is located along the Narayanghat-Mugling highway, about 100 kilometers west of the capital Kathmandu, Friday, July 12 at 03.30 local time.

One bus that had an accident was traveling from Kathmandu to Gaur, Rautahat District, southern Nepal. While another is on its way to Kathmandu from southern Birgunj.

On the same road today, another bus also had an accident. The bus driver's victim died after a large rock hit the vehicle he was driving.

Nepal's Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, expressed his condolences for this incident. His condolences were conveyed in his X social media account.

"I direct all government agencies, including domestic administration, to seek and rescue passengers effectively," he wrote.

Deadly accidents often occur in the Himalayan republic because of poor road construction, poor vehicles, reckless drivers.

Based on data from the Nepalese government, nearly 2,400 lives were lost on the Nepalese highway in 12 months to April 2024.