Seven Indian nationals were killed in rain-hit Nepal after two passenger buses were swept away in a massive landslide and pushed off the road into a swollen river early on Friday.
The two buses were carrying 65 passengers, feared missing in the river Trishuli, after the landslide at Simaltal area along the Narayanghat-Mugling road in Chitwan district, Nepalese news portal myrepublica reported quoting officials.
One of the buses that was carrying the seven Indians who died was on its way from Birgunj to Kathmandu.
Road department officials had closed the Narayanghat-Kathmandu road for 15 days due to the risk of landslides in the wake of incessant rainfall. Despite that, traffic was restored.
With heavy rainfall lashing Nepal for the past few days, landslides have been occurring in various places due to which several roads and highways were shut across the Himalayan nation.
"The buses were travelling along the highway when the landslide struck, pushing them off the road and into the river below. Both buses were carrying a total of 65 people, including the drivers. We are currently at the incident site, and a search operation is underway. However, incessant rain is hampering our efforts to locate the missing buses," Indradev Yadav, Chief District Officer of Chitwan, told news agency ANI.
Rescue operations were hampered at times due to the heavy rainfall in the region, while traffic was obstructed on the Narayanghat-Mugling road section due to debris from the landslide.
Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda said he was "deeply saddened" by the incident and directed government agencies to search and rescue the passengers.
Nepal Police and armed forces personnel were present at the site for assistance in the rescue operations.
