Simaltal landslide: 15 bodies retrieved, eight identified

Kathmandu: 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, from Sitamani of Bihar, Jaya Prakash Thakur, 30 from Betiya Thana of Paschim Champaran and Sajad Ansari, 30, of Betiya Majheiliya.

Similarly, 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 one 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.

It may be noted that on Friday, two passenger buses fell into the Trishuli River after being caught in a landslide at Simaltal. One bus (Bagamati Province 3-006 Kha 1516) was traveling from Birgunj to Kathmandu, while the other (Bagamati Province 03-001 Kha 2459) was en route to Gaur from Kathmandu. It is said 65 passengers were onboard the two buses: 38 on the bus bound for Kathmandu from Birgunj and 38 on the next.

Three passengers of the bus on the Kathmandu-Gaur route could save lives by jumping from the vehicle. 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 is said.

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