In a devastating incident near Simaltar, Nepal, tragedy struck as two buses, each with a combined total of at least 65 passengers, were swept off the Narayanghat-Mugling highway into the rain-swollen Trishuli river. The location, approximately 120km (75 miles) west of Kathmandu, became the epicenter of a desperate rescue operation amid challenging weather conditions.
Government administrator Khima Nanada Bhusal reported that three survivors managed to escape by jumping into the river and swimming to safety. They were promptly taken to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention.
Despite mobilizing military and police forces, rescue efforts were hampered by ongoing heavy rainfall, which triggered additional landslides and blocked access routes leading to the disaster site. Authorities, including police spokesman Dan Bahadur Karki, confirmed that the first bus carried 41 passengers traveling from Kathmandu to Gaur, while the second bus, en route from Birgunj to Kathmandu, had 24 passengers, though more may have boarded along the way.
The monsoon season, notorious for torrential rains from June to September, has inflicted widespread devastation across Nepal. Recent weeks have witnessed numerous casualties due to landslides and flooding, underscoring the region's vulnerability to natural disasters exacerbated by its mountainous terrain.
In another tragic incident on the same highway, a landslide claimed the life of a bus driver, with details about other potential casualties remaining unclear. Meanwhile, in Kaski district, located 150km (93 miles) west of Kathmandu, ten individuals lost their lives when landslides swept away three houses.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed profound sorrow over these calamities, urging swift and efficient rescue operations by government agencies. The response efforts remain ongoing as authorities strive to locate and aid those affected by the relentless forces of nature.
