• Source:JND
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A massive landslide swept away two buses, carrying an estimated 63 passengers, on the Madan-Ashrit Highway in Central Nepal into the Trishuli River. According to the report, the incident occurred at around 3:30 AM on Friday. Search and rescue operations are underway.

"As per the preliminary information both the buses were carrying a total of 63 people including the bus drivers. The landslide swept the buses at around 3:30 am. We are at the incident site and a search operation is underway. Incessant rain is hampering our efforts to search for the missing buses," Indradev Yadav, Chief District Officer, Chitwan confirmed to ANI.

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Taking to social media platforms, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed deep sadness over reports of missing people. He has directed authorities to conduct effective search and rescue operations.

A landslide swept two buses carrying an estimated 63 passengers into the Trishuli River on Friday morning. (Image credit: ANI)

"I am deeply saddened by the reports of about five dozen passengers that were missing when the bus was washed away by a landslide on the Narayangadh-Muglin road section and the loss of properties due to floods and landslides in different parts of the country. I direct all agencies of the government, including the home administration, to search and effectively rescue the passengers," PM Dahal wrote on X.

According to officials, a landslide swept away the Kathmandu-bound Angel bus and the Ganpati Deluxe bus, which was heading from Kathmandu to Rautahat's Gaur. Preliminary reports indicate that there were 24 people on board the bus bound for Kathmandu and 41 people traveling in the other bus.

Three passengers on the Ganpati Deluxe managed to escape by jumping out of the vehicle. Rescue operations are underway as personnel from the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force head to the incident sites. Meanwhile, all the flights from Kathmandu to Chitwan's Bharatpur have been cancelled for the day as the weather remains grim.