Simaltal landslide: 17 dead bodies retrieved, nine identified

Kathmandu, July 16: Seventeen bodies, out of 65, who went missing in the Simaltar bus plunge incident, have been found. Among the retrieved bodies, nine have been identified.     

It may be noted that two buses were swept away by landslide at Simaltal of Bharatpur Metropolitan City-29 in Chitwan district on July 12 and went missing in the Trishuli River.     

Out of 65 passengers in the buses, three managed to save their lives while 62 were still missing. Bodies of 17 missing passengers have been recovered till date, according to the Armed Police Force (APF).     

The APF have ascertained the identities of nine victims as of now while identification of eight bodies remain, said Deputy Spokesperson of the APF, Shailendra Thapa.     

Among those whose identities were established were Indian nationals Rishipal Shah, Jaya Prakash Thakur, Sazad Ansari.     

Police also identified the dead bodies of Bikas Pariyar and Sudip BK of Chitwan district, Ramit Kushar Majhi of Sarlahi district, Firoz Rahupamiya and Kishore Kumar Chaudhary of Rautahat district and Paramananda Pandit of Bara district.     

Bodies of six male and two female are yet to be identified, shared Deputy Spokesperson Thapa.     

Search operation is underway for the remaining missing people including the two passenger buses, he added.(RSS)