Simaltal Incident: Search for missing passengers, buses still underway

Kathmandu, July 22: Search operation for the missing buses and passengers in Simaltal landslide has been accelerated even today, the 11th day since the tragic fatal incident.     

The two buses and around 65 passengers went missing when a landslide at Simaltal along the Narayangadh-Muglin road section at Bharatpur metropolitan city-29 swept away the buses into the Trishuli river below.     

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and management Authority shared that a 12-member squad of Indian National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) arrived in Nepal in a bid to help search those missing.     

According to NDRRMA Spokesperson, Dr Dijan Bhattarai, search for the missing was underway from Sunday morning after holding a joint meeting of the District Security Committee and Indian Technical Team under leadership of Chief District Officer of Chitwan on Saturday.     

The joint team carried out search at around 16 kilometers area from Ghumane to Devghat till this evening.     

 Issuing a press release today, the NDRRMA thanked the Indian government for providing support in search operation by sending skilled technicians during this hour of disaster.     

Of the missing passengers in this tragic incident, 25 bodies were found so far. Of 25 bodies, two were recovered from across the border in India. Identities of 18 deceased were ascertained so far and bodies handed over to the families. Of the 18 identified bodies, 13 were Nepalis while 15 Indian nationals, added the Authority.(RSS)