RAUTAHAT, July 12: Locals in Rautahat and Birgunj are in pain after two passenger buses went missing early this morning in the Trishuli River due to landslides.

The buses were swept away into the Trishuli River after a sudden landslide near Simaltal in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-29. The affected vehicles are Ganapati Deluxe (Province-03-001 Kha 2495), heading from Kathmandu to Gaur in Rautahat, and Angel Deluxe Bus (Bagmati Province 1516), heading from Birgunj to Kathmandu.

Family members of the passengers traveling from Rautahat, Birgunj, and various parts of India on these ill-fated buses are currently experiencing distress following the news of the missing buses.

The bus driver, Kishor Chaudhary, and conductor, Rishi Singh, along with 30 passengers, were traveling from Kathmandu to Rautahat in the Ganapati Deluxe.

According to information provided by the Ganapati Travels Bus Counter in Kalanki, a total of 27 passengers from Kathmandu had bought tickets to travel to Rautahat. The bus counter did not disclose the addresses, mobile numbers, or names of the passengers who boarded the bus as indicated in the receipt number provided.

Based on details obtained from the Kathmandu bus counter, Rautahat Police Chief SP Dilip Ghimire mentioned that efforts are being made to contact family members based on the information they have received.

Chief of Bagmati Province's Armed Police Force, DIG Ganesh Thada Magar, confirmed that rescue operations are underway for the Ganapati Deluxe bus headed to Rautahat from Kathmandu.

Similarly, details have been received of 21 passengers traveling from Birgunj to Kathmandu on Angel Deluxe (Bagmati Province 1516). According to the latest information, police have said that there were seven Indian nationals among the passengers on the bus.

The search operation for the bus that met with the accident is currently ongoing.

Nepal Army personnel in search and rescue mission (Video): https://fb.watch/tgqWWYtWeQ/