Dhading: At least 18 people were killed when a bus fell into a river in the early hours of this morning. At least 18 people were killed when a passenger bus fell into the Trishuli river in Dhading, Nepal, police said. More than 24 passengers were injured in the accident, and rescue operations are still underway, news agency ANI reported.
The bus fell into the river near Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality-5 in Bhainsigouda around 1.30 am after leaving the Prithvi Highway. The video from the accident site has surfaced online, showing the bus completely crushed after falling into the river.
17 bodies recovered so far
According to local media reports, 17 bodies have been recovered from the river so far. Armed Police Force (APF) spokesperson Bishnu Prasad Bhatta confirmed the news and said that rescue operations are underway for the survivors. He said that 24 injured passengers have been rescued from the spot and shifted to various hospitals for treatment. He said that the identities of the deceased and injured are yet to be confirmed.
The exact cause of the bus accident is yet to be determined by the authorities. Rescue operations are being carried out in coordination with three security agencies in Nepal. The search operation in the river is underway and a special team comprising divers from the APF Nepal Disaster Management Unit at Adanghat is involved in the rescue operation.
The rescue operation is being led by APF Deputy Superintendent of Police Sunil Giri from the Disaster Management Training School, the officials said. The area where the incident took place is also a challenging terrain for rescue operations, and the river’s currents are making the operation difficult, officials said. More details are awaited.