Simaltal Accident: 15 dead bodies retrieved so far, eight bodies identified

Published On: July 16, 2024 12:41 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, July 16: The bodies of 15 passengers who went missing in the Trishuli River due to landslides in the Simaltal area along the Narayanghat-Mugling road section in Bharatpur-29, Chitwan, have been found. The two buses that met with the accident were carrying 65 passengers.

According to the data provided by the Armed Police Force (APF), identities of eight passengers have been established as of 9:30 AM on Tuesday. Three Indian nationals also died in the accident. The Indian nationals have been identified as Rishi Pal Shah, 28, of Bihar Sitamarhi; Jaya Prakash Thakur, 30, of West Champaran, Bettiah station; and Sajad Ansari, 30, of Betiya Mazhalai station.

Similarly, the bodies of Bikash Pariyar, 22, of Madi-1, Chitwan; Ramit Kusar Majhi, 19, of Barahathawa-3, Sarlahi; Sudip BK, 23, of Pathani, Bharatpur Metropolitan city-22; Parmanand Pandit, 43, of Bishrampur-6, Bara; and Ferroz Rahup Mia, 17, of Rautahat have been identified.

Shailendra Thapa, Deputy Superintendent (DSP) of Police of the APF, said that the bodies of the deceased have been handed over to their families. The identities of seven men and one woman have not been established yet. Their bodies were discovered in Golaghat, Salbas, and Siswar in Chitwan, as well as in Gaindakot, Bhutaha, and Triveni Barrage in Nawalpur.

The bus (Ba Pra 03-006 B 1516) on its way from Birgunj to Kathmandu and another bus (Ba Pra 03-011 B 2595), en route to Guar from Kathmandu were swept into the Trishuli River by a landslide in Simaltal, Chitwan on July 12 at 3AM.

Police said that there were a total of 38 passengers, including 27 who bought tickets and other 11 individuals on the bus coming from Birgunj to Kathmandu, and 27 passengers including 23 who bought tickets and other four individuals were on the bus going to Gaur from Kathmandu. Following the accident, the relatives of the passengers who were traveling on the bus without tickets had provided their details to the police. It has been revealed that there were 65 passengers on the two buses.

DSP Thapa said that out of the three survivors who managed to jump through a broken window of the bus going to Gaur from Kathmandu, Jugeshwor Raya Yadav and Saroj Kumar Gupta of Garuda Municipality-9, Rautahat have returned home after treatment, while Nandan Das of Dewa Gonahi Municipality-10, Rautahat is undergoing treatment.