Chitwan, July 28: It has been over two weeks since the occurrence of Simaltal tragedy, but 38 passengers are still missing.
Two buses were swallowed by the Trishuli River after they were swept into it by the landslide at Simaltal along Narayangadh-Muglin road section in Bharatpur Metropolis-29 on July 12.
Even a 12-member squad of underwater rescuers that came from India at the request of Nepal government continued search for the missing buses and passengers but failed to trace any- neither buses nor corpses, according to Chief District Officer in Chitwan, Indra Dev Yadav.
The Indian squad from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) came with 12 members and launched the search since July 20. With no traces at all during a weeklong search, the team is returned India on Sunday.
However, CDO Yadav said they would inform the government about the research efforts in an official manner.
Neither the buses nor passengers were found since July 19. Earlier, 24 corpses were found at various places.
CDO Yadav, however, informed that the Indian team of underwater rescuers informed that the missing buses could be found somewhere between Simaltal to Gaighat stretching in 3.5 kilometres. “Although they are not sure, it will be buses, but guess,” he added.
The Nepali team has continued search as per their approximation.
CDO Yadav however informed that the exploration was difficult due to deep river and hostile water current.
Two buses- one coming to Kathmandu from Birgunj, and another reroute to Gaur from Kathmandu- were swept away into the Trishuli River. Among 24 persons found after the disaster, only 18 have been identified so far. Rest of them are still missing. #nepal #rss #simaltal
