Simaltal landslide: Indian rescue squad arrives in Nepal

Kathmandu, July 20: A team of Indian rescuers have arrived in Nepal to help in searching for those gone missing after the Simaltal bus accident. 

It has been over a week since two buses plunged into the Trishuli River from Simaltal along the Narayangadh-Muglin road after they were swept away by the landslide. The search for the missing passengers continued with the untiring efforts of the security agencies.     

Executive Chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, Anil Pokhrel, informed that a 12-member squad of the Indian National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) arrived in Nepal in a bid to help Nepal search for those missing since the Simaltal tragedy.     

The Indian squad entered Nepal via the Sunauli border point this morning and is heading to the disaster site. The rescuers from the neighbouring country are beginning the task from today itself.     

The team is equipped with the implements necessary for underwater search and rescue. It is learnt that they brought three ultramodern sonar equipment.     

The neighbouring team is reaching the site along with the team of the Armed Police Force.     

Executive Chief Pokhrel shared with RSS that as the resources with Nepal were not up to the mark to find the casualties, the government invited foreign assistance. The Home Ministry had requested for India via the Foreign Ministry.     

Similarly, the Chief of the Disaster and Conflict Management Division at the Home Ministry, Dr Bhishma Kumar Bhusal, said the Indian government had been written on July 15 for assistance with experts. The Indian team arrived here at this request.     

On July 12, the Trishuli River swallowed two buses that were swept into it by the landslide at Simaltal. Those ill-fated passenger buses were the Angel bus heading to Kathmandu from Birgunj (Bagmati Province 03-006 Kha 1516), and another, Ganapati Deluxe bus en route to Gaur, Rauthat from Kathmandu (Bagmati Province 03-2495 Kha 001).     

Among a total of 65 passengers in the two buses, three had escaped the death, while 62 went missing. Among those gone disappeared, the dead bodies of 23 passengers have been retrieved so far.     

A task force formed by the Home Ministry is studying the tragic incident.(RSS)