On August 23, 2024, a tragic accident occurred when an Indian passenger bus carrying 40 people. Fell into the Marsyangdi River in the Tanahun district of Nepal. According to the Nepal Police, the incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. The bus, route from Pokhara to Kathmandu, veered off the highway at Aaina Pahara and fell into the river. The vehicle, registered under number UP 53 FT 7623, was traveling from Gorakhpur.
As of now, the accident has claimed the lives of at least 14 individuals, with 29 others injured. The injured passengers have been taken to local hospitals for treatment, but their current conditions have not been disclosed. Rescue operations are ongoing with a team of 45 APF personnel, led by Senior Superintendent of Police Madhav Paudel, at the accident site. Additionally, 35 personnel from the 23rd Battalion in Bhanu, Tanahun, are assisting in the rescue efforts.
This tragic event follows a similar disaster in July 2024, where severe monsoon rains swept two buses, carrying a total of 65 passengers, into the swollen Trishuli River. Extensive search operations were launched, including a 12-member team from India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Despite these efforts, the two missing buses and many passengers have not been located. So far, the bodies of five Indian nationals have been recovered, and two individuals are still missing.
Nepal’s monsoon season, which lasts from June to September, brings heavy rains and increases the risk of landslides and flooding due to the country’s mountainous terrain. The rivers, including the Marsyangdi and Trishuli, become fast-flowing and murky, complicating rescue and recovery operations.The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority of Nepal has warned that this year’s monsoon will likely be more intense than usual. The intense weather could affect around 1.8 million people and impact approximately 412,000 households across the country. Authorities have urged citizens to exercise heightened vigilance in light of the ongoing threats posed by monsoon-related disasters.
The Bus Is likely From Uttar Pradesh
The bus involved in the accident is believed to be from Uttar Pradesh, as indicated by its number plate, UP FT 7623. DSP Deepkumar Raya from the District Police Office in Tanahun. Reported that the bus fell into the Marsyangdi River and is now situated on the riverbank.
DSP Shailendra Thapa stated that the search efforts, which had paused on Friday evening, resumed with a sonar camera for pipeline inspection. The team had paused the operation due to high water currents. Muddy conditions made it unsafe to continue at night. The search resumed at 8 a.m. on Saturday. “We will search all possible locations and make every effort in our search and rescue operations,” Thapa stated.
Nepal, which is highly vulnerable to climate change, has experienced numerous extreme weather events over the past decade and a half. The Kathmandu Post reports that temperatures in Nepal are rising by 0.056°C per year. Faster than the global average increase of 0.03 degrees Celsius per year.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has projected that the monsoon this year will impact approximately 1.81 million people and 412,000 households. Experts also anticipate an increase in extreme weather events, including intense rainfall over short periods, extended rains after the monsoon, dry spells, droughts, below-average precipitation, and warmer winters.
Also Read: Himachal Pradesh Flood: Heavy Rain in Himachal, 65 Roads Closed; Flood Warning in Six Districts
Rescue Operations are Currently Underway.
A team of 45 Armed Police Force personnel, led by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Madhav Paudel from the Armed Police Force Nepal Disaster Management Training School. On-site conducting the rescue operation, according to the PTI report.
