DHADHING (FISLING), Oct 16: Thirteen passengers are still missing two days after a microbus (Ba 2 Kha 2598) skidded off the road and plunged some 200 meters down into the Trishuli River at Darechowk VDC 9 along the Prithvi Highway on Monday.
It is learnt 24 passengers were on board the Kathmandu-bound microbus. Two people have been confirmed dead while nine others were rescued alive by the Armed Police Force (APF) personnel, according to APF sub inspector Rohit Dulal. [break]
APF team from Disaster Management Training Center in Kurintar and Nepal Police personnel from Muglin have been carrying out the rescue operation. The injured passengers are undergoing treatment at Bharatpur hospital.
The deceased have been identified as Nisha Poudel, 22, of Bhaisepati, Lalitpur and an Australian Muchnink Marina, 32.
According to the police, the over-speeding micro bus had lost control on the slippery road before plunging into the river.
Inspector Basanta Dhital said the rescue team has only found a door of the micro bus so far. A team of nine divers have been deployed to search for the missing passengers. The relatives of the missing passengers and the locals have also been helping the security personnel in the rescue efforts.
“Rising water level in the river due to the incessant rainfall has been obstructing rescue operation. We are unable to send the divers underwater due to high water current,” said Dhital.
According to the police, most of the passengers in the ill-fated microbus were heading home to receive Tika from their elders.
Missing passengers:
1. Parbati Tiwari, 35, of Rainas-3 Gorkha
2. Lok Bahadur Baniya, 48, of Benigaht-8, Dhading
3. Apsara Baiya, 15, of Benigaht-8, Dhading
4. Nachda Baniya, 19, of Benigaht-8, Dhading
5. Jhalak Dhakal, 39, of Bharatupur Municipality-6, Chitwan
6. Nimesh Dhakal, 5, of Bharatpur Municipality-6, Chitwan
7. Yajaswi Dhakal, 3, of Bharatupur Municipality-6, Chitwan
8. Micro bus driver ´Maila´, 35
9. Samjhana Khanal (Poudel), of Bhaisepati, Laitpur
10. Reshma Poudel, 12, of Mangalpur, Chitwan
11. Sabina Poudel, 32.of Mangalpur Chitwan
12. Rina Adhikari, 32, of Dhapasi-4, Kathmandu
13. Bipin Adhikari, 12, of Dhapasi-4, Kathmandu