In a collaborative effort between Nepal and India, twelve rescue personnel from India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have joined Nepali security forces in the search for missing passengers from two buses swept away by a landslide in Nepal last week.
The Indian rescue team, which includes four divers, arrived in Chitwan, Bagmati province, on Saturday at Nepal’s request. They began operations on Sunday morning, equipped with specialized gear including three sonar cameras. The team is expected to assist for seven days, according to Chitwan’s Chief District Officer Indradev Yadav.
The incident occurred on July 12 along the Narayanghat-Muglin road section, where two buses carrying 65 passengers were washed into the Trishuli River following a landslide. To date, 19 bodies have been recovered, with three passengers managing to escape and swim to safety.
Seven Indian nationals were on one of the buses. Bodies of three Indian passengers have been recovered so far. In total, 24 bodies have been found some as far as 100 kilometres downstream, with 15 confirmed as passengers from the missing buses.
Nepalese rescue teams, including the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, and the Armed Police Force, have been conducting search operations since the incident with limited success. The fast-flowing, swollen rivers, typical during Nepal’s monsoon season from June to September, have complicated rescue efforts.
