Rescuers in Nepal are searching for over 60 missing individuals after a massive landslide swept two buses into a river. The disaster, triggered by heavy monsoon rains, occurred in the early hours of Friday on the Narayanghat-Mugling highway in Chitwan, about 100km from Kathmandu.
Survivor Nandan Das recounted the harrowing experience, saying he was thrown out of the bus into the river and managed to swim to safety despite the darkness and the river’s treacherous conditions. Only three people are known to have survived the incident.
Another survivor, Jogishwar Raya, described the bus trembling and overturning multiple times before plunging into the river. Tragically, his family members are among the missing.
Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has mobilized all government agencies for the search and rescue operation. The monsoon season has brought heavy rainfall, causing floods and landslides across South Asia, with Nepal particularly affected. Authorities have also issued alerts for residents near the Koshi River due to rising water levels.
Nepal frequently experiences deadly crashes due to poorly maintained roads and reckless driving, exacerbating the challenges posed by natural disasters.
