Simaltal accident: 15 bodies found, 8 identified

CHITWAN: Fifteen bodies, out of 65, who went missing after two passenger buses plunged into the Trishuli River following a landslide at Simaltal of Bharatpur Metropolis-29 in Chitwan, have been found. Among the retrieved bodies, eight have been identified.

According to the Armed Police Force (APF) updates, till 9:30 am today, they have ascertained the identities of eight victims including three Indian citizens.

Those Indian nationals are Rhishipal Sah (28) of Sitamani, Bihar, Jaya Prakash Thakur (30) of Betiya Thana in Paschim Champaran and Sajad Ansari (30) of Betiya Majheiliya.

Similarly, other deceased have been identified as Bikash Pariyar (22) of Madi-2, Chitwan; Ramit Kushar Majhi (19) of Barhathawa-3, Sarlahi; Sudip BK (23) of Patahani of Bharatpur Metropolis-22, Paramananda Pundit (43) of Bishrampur-6, Bara; and Firoj Miya of Rautahat-17.

APF’s Joint Spokesperson Deputy Superintendent of Police, Shailendra Thapa, said their relatives have already received the bodies.

Seven dead including a woman are yet to be identified and their bodies were retrieved from Golaghat, Salabas, and Sisawar of Chitwan, Gaidakot, Bhutaha, and Tribeni Barrage of Nawalpur.

Earlier on Friday, two passenger buses fell into the Trishuli River after being swept away by a landslide at Simaltal.

One bus (Bagmati Province 3-006 Kha 1516) was heading towards Kathmandu from Birgunj, while the other (Bagmati Province 03-001 Kha 2459) was en route to Gaur from Kathmandu.

It has been learnt that there were 65 passengers onboard the two buses: 38 on the bus bound for Kathmandu from Birgunj and 38 on the next.

Three passengers saved lives by jumping from the bus heading towards Gaur from Kathmandu.

Jugeshwor Raya Yadav and Saroj Kumar Gupta of Garuda Municipality-19 in Rautahat have already returned home while Nandan Das of Dewahi Banahi Municipality-10 in Rautahat is under medical treatment, it has been said.