Police recovered five bodies from the river, while four persons, including, the bus driver swam to safety. At least 25 more people are estimated to be missing. [break]
The bus (Ba 2 Kha 4013) that was traveling to Bahrabise plunged into the river at Baseri, Gati-9 section of the Araniko Highway at around 10 am. It plunged about 10 meters below the highway. The bus had left for Tatopani on Sunday but had returned on Monday from Nayabasti where landslide had obstructed the highway.
The five bodies have been identified as those of 45-year-old Dhan Bahadur Shrestha of Bahrabise-6, 26-year-old Chyangba Kanchi Shrestha of Dhuskun-9, 25-year-old Thinel Sherpa of Marming-8, 35-year-old Nime Pasang Sherpa of Marming-8 and Chandra Maya Lama of Jaisithok, Kavre.
Driver of the bus Bikram Shakya of Bahrabise-8, his help Buddha Shrestha of Bahrabise-8, and passengers Govinda Chalise of Ramche-1, and Tanka Prasad Dahal of Suri-9, Dolakha, swam to safety.
The Area Police Office has detained the driver and his help. Chalise and Dahal, who sustained minor injuries, have gone to Kathmandu for treatment after preliminary treatment at a Primary Health Center in Bahrabise.
The district´s Deputy Superintendent of Police Sthaneshwar Regmi said the accident resulted from the driver´s negligence.
“We found that the bus plunged into the river after slamming into a pothole filled with water. The bus was traveling at high speed,” he said.
Bus driver Shakya said he was misled by the road.
“I couldn´t control the bus after it hit the pothole,” he said, adding that the accident occurred as he believed the there were no protuberances or potholes on the road.
Based on the accounts of eyewitnesses as well as those who survived, police believe 25 people are still missing in the river.
People who believe their relatives are among those missing were submitting names to police by Monday evening. By the time this report was filed, police had noted down names of 11 people believed to be among those missing.
The accident site is 95 kilometers from Kathmandu. Teams of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, apart from locals, reached the site after the accident.
As the bus was nowhere to be seen, rescue work was focused on recovering dead bodies. Swimmers were mobilized for the purpose. Search was continuing by Monday evening. Some bodies were recovered 20 kilometers downstream of point where the accident occurred.
According to DSP Regmi, search operation will be intensified Tuesday. He wasn´t hopeful that those who are missing would be found alive.
- Read: Survivors´ accounts
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