Magnet lost while searching for missing buses found

Muglin (Chitwan)- A magnet belonging to the Indian rescuers’ team, which was lost while searching for the buses missing in the Trishuli River following an accident at Simaltal, has been found.

The 19-kg magnet and lifebuoy tube were lost when they were hurled away by the river while searching for the buses on July 27. The lost magnet was found in the Narayani River at Kabhreghat this morning, said Indradev Yadav, the Chief District Officer of Chitwan. The lifebuoy tube has also been found along with the magnet, he added.

On July 12, two passenger buses, including the bus ‘Ganapati Deluxe’ with registration number Bagmati Province 03- 2495 Kha 001 going to Gaur from Kathmandu and the next one ‘Angel Deluxe’ with registration number Bagmati Pradesh 03-006 Kha 1516 heading towards Kathmandu from Birgunj fell into the Trishuli River after they were washed away by landslide at Simaltal, Bharatpur Metropolitan City-29. Each bus was carrying 38 and 27 passengers respectively.

Three of the 65 passengers survived after jumping off the bus and swimming to safety while 62 are still missing. Twenty-four bodies have been recovered so far and among these, 18 bodies have been identified and handed over to their families. The identity of the remaining six bodies could not be established. Thirty-eight passengers and the two buses are still missing. The Indian team had arrived in Nepal to help in the search for the missing buses and passengers.

The team had brought magnets, one weighing 19 kilogrammes and the other weighing 14 kilogrammes for searching the missing buses. The Indian team has already left for India on Sunday.