Driver escapes, woman rescued from river 1.5 km downstream

KATHMANDU: A woman trapped inside a car swept away by the swollen Bishnumati River in Kathmandu was rescued alive late Wednesday night.

While the driver managed to save himself by jumping out, the woman remained inside the vehicle as it was carried downstream by the powerful current.

According to Kathmandu District Police, the incident occurred at 10:10 PM in Tokha Municipality-6, behind Grande Hospital.

The vehicle (Ba. Pra. 01-031 Ch 6141) veered off the narrow riverside road while trying to give way to another vehicle, after the roadside soil gave way, causing the car to plunge directly into the river.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Deepak Giri, spokesperson for the Valley Traffic Police Office, said the driver, 35-year-old Ankush Singh of Kanchanpur, managed to leap out just in time.

However, 34-year-old Bhawana Oli, originally from Tulsipur, Dang and currently residing in Tokha, was trapped inside as the car was carried away by the river.

Upon receiving the emergency call, a 45-member rescue team led by SP Apilraj Bohora from the Kathmandu District Police Office was immediately deployed. “The rescue operation was extremely challenging due to the strong current and darkness,” SP Bohora stated.

After a continuous search, the team located the car stuck near the Baniyatar Bridge, approximately 1.5 kilometers downstream.

Bhawana was found unconscious inside the vehicle and was quickly taken to Green City Hospital for treatment.

She is now reported to be in stable condition.

The submerged car was also recovered later that night with the help of a crane.