Simaltal Bus Accident: Dead bodies of missing Ganapati Deluxe driver and helper found

CHITWAN, July 16: Search teams have recovered the bodies of the bus driver and helper of the Ganapati Deluxe, which went missing in the Trishuli River after a sudden landslide at Simaltar in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-19 early morning on Friday.

Their bodies were found on Monday near the Gandak Barrage bridge-- some 103 kilometers downstream from the incident site. According to the District Administration Office, Chitwan, family members were able to identify the bodies on Tuesday.

The driver of the Ganapati Deluxe bus, which was traveling from Kathmandu to Gaur, has been identified as Kishor Kumar Chaudhary, 35, from Babar Municipality-.6 of Rautahat. The bus helper was Rishi Kumar Singh, 48, from Chapur Municipality-10 in the same district. 

The bodies of nine missing passengers have also been identified, according to Assistant Chief District Officer of Chitwan, Khimanand Bhusal. He informed that the condition of 45 passengers is still unknown.

The passengers of the two buses that fell into the Trishuli River five days ago are still missing. So far, 17 bodies have been retrieved from various locations of the Trishuli and Narayani rivers. Eight bodies have yet to be identified, stated Assistant Chief District Officer Bhusal. The bodies of those identified have been taken home by their relatives.

Three bodies were found on the banks of the Narayani River in Gaindakot Municipality-10 and Madhya Bindu Municipality on Tuesday. He mentioned that preparations are being made to bring their bodies to Bharatpur Hospital for post mortem. 

The buses, one traveling to Kathmandu from Birgunj and another en route to Gaur from Kathmandu, went missing in the Trishuli River as a result of a sudden landslide on Friday morning. According to the police, there were a total of 65 passengers on those ill-fated buses.