No hope for survivors of bus crash in Nepal, 55 people still missing

KATHMANDU – Rescue workers in Nepal are ruling out the chance of finding survivors of the July 12 landslide. Two buses carrying 65 passengers were swept into a river swollen by heavy rains, authorities said July 15.

Hundreds of security forces resumed their search operation early on the morning of July 15 to find the buses and 55 passengers who were still missing more than 72 hours after the accident.

Search operations at the site of the July 12 accident in Chitwan district, about 86 kilometers west of the capital Kathmandu, have so far found seven bodies, including two from July 15.

“There is no chance of finding survivors. Our focus is on recovering the bodies,” said Bhesh Raj Rijal, a senior police officer in Chitwan district.

Family members gathered at the search site have given up hope of finding their loved ones alive, an official said.

“They are asking us to at least find the bodies. The situation here is grim,” said Mr Khimananda Bhusal, a government official in the district.

Landslides and floods triggered by torrential monsoon rains have killed more than 100 people in Nepal since mid-June.

Following the landslide, the government announced plans to ban buses from operating at night in areas where bad weather is forecast. REUTERS