Two buses were carried off a highway and into a river by a landslide caused by intense rains in Nepal, leaving more than 60 people missing, according to authorities.
In the central district of Chitwan, dozens of search and rescue workers were searching the scene for accident survivors, district administrator Khimananda Bhuwal told AFP.
According to Bhusal, there were at least 66 people on board the buses combined, but three of them managed to get out before the buses crashed into the river, and they are currently receiving medical attention in a hospital.
“We are not sure of the total number because the buses could have picked up others on the road,” he said.
“The river has swollen and no one else has been found yet.”
The collision happened around 100 kilometers (60 miles) west of Kathmandu, the capital, on the Narayanghat-Mugling route.
On social networking platform X, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal posted a message expressing sorrow for the accident.
“I direct all agencies of the government, including the home administration, to search for and effectively rescue the passengers,” he stated.
In the Himalayan nation, fatal collisions occur frequently as a result of shoddy roadwork, poorly maintained automobiles, and careless driving.
The monsoon season makes driving more dangerous because of landslides and floods caused by rain.
