KATHMANDU – Rescuers in Nepal have ruled out the chances of finding survivors from the July 12 landslide that swept two passenger buses carrying 65 people into a river swollen by heavy rain. Authorities made the announcement on July 15, as efforts to locate the missing continued.
Hundreds of security personnel resumed search operations early on July 15 to find the buses and the 55 passengers who remained missing more than 72 hours after the accident. The landslide occurred in Chitwan district, approximately 86 km west of Kathmandu. So far, search teams have recovered seven bodies, including two on July 15.
“There are no chances of finding survivors. Our focus is on recovering bodies,” said Bhesh Raj Rijal, a senior police official in Chitwan district.
Family members gathered at the search site have abandoned hope of finding their loved ones alive. “They are requesting us to at least find the dead bodies. The scene here is grim,” said Khimananda Bhusal, a government official in the district.
Landslides and floods, triggered by torrential monsoon rains, have claimed more than 100 lives in Nepal since mid-June. In response to the landslide, the government has announced plans to ban buses from traveling at night in areas with adverse weather forecasts.