22 killed as bus plunges into river in Chitwan

As many as 22 people died on the spot when a bus from Gaur (Rautahat) to Pokhara plunged into the Trishuli River from nearby Kalikhola of Chandibhanjyang VDC along the Narayangarh-Mugling road section this morning. Some 17 among the injured were rescued alive from the incident site. The bus was conducted by the Prithvi Highway Bus Operators Committee. At least 37 passengers were on board the bus (Ga 1 Kha 3709) – 30 from Gaur and seven from Chandranigahapur, informed Committee’s General Secretary Yogendra KC. Two others are still missing in the River. Search for the disappeared is underway. The status of driver and co-driver is still unknown. Though the deceased passengers are yet to be identified many of them are supposedly from Anbykhaireni, Damauli, Kharinitar and Pokhara area, KC further informed. The bus had left Gaur for Pokhara at 6.00 pm on Thursday evening. The bus fell into the river at 4.45 am, said SP Basanta Bahadur Kunwar. A team of Nepal Police and Armed Police Disaster Management Centre, Kurintar headed by Kunwar is in site for rescue operations. The injured have been taken to Bharatpur Hospital for treatment. The bus fell down around 100 meters into the River. Narayan Adhikari/RSS