Day after Nepal landslide, body of one of missing Indians recovered

Kathmandu, July 13

A body of a 40-year-old Indian national working in Nepal was among three corpses recovered by rescuers on Saturday from the wreckage of two buses that were swept by a mudslide into a rain-swollen river with more than 50 passengers a day earlier.

The first body from the buses was recovered in the morning from 50 km away from the accident site. The deceased was identified as Rishi Pal Shahi from India, police said. The body was found half covered by sand in the Narayani River of Chitwan district, police said, adding that he was carrying an Indian ID.

The rescuers in the afternoon recovered two more bodies from the Gaindakot area in East Nawalparasi district, police said, adding that both the deceased were Nepali nationals who were missing in the accident.

The two buses carrying 54 passengers, including seven Indians, went missing in Trishuli River in the landslides at the Simaltal area along the Narayanghat-Mugling road in Chitwan district on Friday. Three people swam to safety later.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and Chitwan District Police Office spokesperson Bhesh Raj Rijal, the deceased Indian national was a passenger of the bus which was heading to Gaur from Kathmandu, MyRepublica news portal reported. Shahi was originally from the Rajmunuwa area of Bihar’s Motihari city and used to live and work in Nepal, the report said, quoting his brother.