Remains of missing Ganapati Deluxe bus discovered in Trishuli

KATHMANADU: Parts of a bus bearing the name Ganapati Deluxe have been discovered buried under sand along the bank of the Trishuli River near Dhondrang Besi in Aanbukhaireni Rural Municipality–5 of Tanahun district.

The remains were located during a search operation conducted by security personnel from the Armed Police Force Nepal’s No. 17 Battalion, Chitwan, and No. 23 Manakamana Battalion, Bhanu, Tanahun.

According to Armed Police Force Deputy Spokesperson Shailendra Thapa, the recovered parts confirmed the identity of the missing vehicle.

The Ganapati Deluxe bus (Bagmati Province 03-001 Kha 2495), which was traveling from Kathmandu to Gaur, and another bus, Angel Deluxe (Bagmati Province 03-006 Kha 1516), heading from Birgunj to Kathmandu, were swept away by a landslide into the Trishuli River at Simaltal, Chitwan, on Asar 28, 2081.

Out of the 31 passengers aboard the Ganapati Deluxe bus, three managed to escape by jumping out, while 28 went missing.

So far, the bodies of 14 victims have been recovered, and the remaining passengers are still unaccounted for.