Nepal successfully retrieves the first body from buses engulfed by landslide

 On Saturday, Nepali rescue teams successfully retrieved the first body from a group of around 50 individuals who had gone missing following a landslide caused by monsoon rains. The landslide had swept two buses off a highway and into a river.

The intensity of the landslide that occurred on Friday in central Chitwan district caused vehicles to be pushed over concrete crash barriers and down a steep embankment, at least 30 meters (100 feet) from the road.

According to police spokesman Kumar Neupane, one body was discovered approximately 55 kilometers (35 miles) away from the accident site.

District official Khimananda Bhusal informed AFP that around 50 individuals are still unaccounted for, a decrease from the 63 initially reported missing by authorities on Friday.

"It is challenging to ascertain the exact number as we are unsure if the buses made any stops to pick up or drop off passengers along the route," he mentioned.

Numerous rescuers dedicated hours to searching the turbulent Trishuli river using rafts, sensor equipment, and dive teams in hopes of finding any signs of the passengers or vehicles.

On Saturday, teams also moved downstream in anticipation of locating the missing passengers.

The swift currents, exacerbated by heavy rainfall this week, have hindered their search efforts thus far.

Chitwan district chief Indra Dev Yadav stated that all local authorities have been advised to remain vigilant for any indications of the missing individuals.

"The river is narrow in this area and very deep," he informed AFP. "The water level is high, its speed is rapid, and its turbidity is also significant."

The collision occurred prior to daybreak on Friday along the Narayanghat-Mugling highway, approximately 100 kilometers west of Kathmandu.

One bus was traveling from the capital to Gaur in Rautahat district in southern Nepal, while the other was on its way to Kathmandu from southern Birgunj.

A driver lost his life in a different accident on the same road when a boulder struck his bus. He passed away while receiving medical treatment at a hospital.

Fatal accidents are frequent in the Himalayan republic due to poorly constructed roads, inadequately maintained vehicles, and reckless driving.

Government data indicates that nearly 2,400 individuals died on Nepal's roads in the 12 months leading up to April.

In January, twelve people were killed and 24 were injured in an incident when a bus traveling from Nepalgunj to Kathmandu plunged into a river.

During the annual monsoon season, road travel becomes more perilous as rains cause landslides and floods throughout the mountainous country.

Monsoon rains from June to September in South Asia provide relief from the summer heat and are essential for replenishing water supplies, but also result in widespread death and destruction.

According to police statistics, floods, landslides, and lightning strikes have claimed the lives of 88 individuals across the country since the onset of the monsoon in June.