At least 66 people were reported missing on Friday in central Nepal as a landslide swept two buses off a highway into a river. Chitwan district official Himananda Busal stated that "two buses, one carrying 24 passengers and the other carrying 42 passengers, were carried away by the landslide into the Trishuli River." Busal added that three passengers managed to survive before the vehicles fell into the river and are currently receiving treatment at a hospital. He said, "We are not sure of the total number as the buses may have carried other people on the route." He explained that "the river has overflowed, and no one else has been found yet."
The incident occurred on the Narayanghat-Mugling highway about 100 kilometers west of the capital, Kathmandu. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed his sorrow over the incident in a post on the "X" platform. He stated, "I instruct all government agencies, including local administration, to search for and rescue the passengers."
Fatal accidents are common in the Himalayan nation due to poor road conditions, lack of vehicle maintenance, and reckless driving. Travel on roads becomes more dangerous during the monsoon season as rains lead to landslides and flooding. Just a few days ago, at least 14 people died and nine others went missing due to flooding and landslides caused by heavy rainfall in Nepal, police reported last Sunday. Authorities in Nepal have warned of new flash floods in several rivers following heavy rains since Thursday.
