No hope of survivors in Nepal bus accident, 55 still missing, police official says

Rescuers have recovered a total of seven bodies from the river that two buses full of people were swept into by a landslide, officials said on Monday.

Rescuers were able to find the bodies in different locations on the riverbanks as the search continues for the missing buses and people on board.

Government administrator Khima Nanda Bhusal said the bodies were identified and relatives contacted. Three of the dead are Indians and the remaining four are Nepali nationals.

There was "no hope" of finding any more survivors from the accident in Nepal last week with 55 people still missing, a senior police official said on Monday, three days after two buses were swept away in a landslide.

Rescuers resumed their search of the site of Friday's incident in Chitwan district, about 86 km (53 miles) west of the capital Kathmandu, after a landslide swept the buses into a river swollen due to heavy rain.

Members of Nepal's Armed Police Force search for survivors in the Trishuli River in Simaltar. AFP

The buses were on the key highway connecting Nepal’s capital to southern parts of the country when they were swept away Friday morning near Simaltal, about 120 kilometres (75 miles) west of Kathmandu.

The first body was recovered Sunday some 50 kilometres (31 miles) from where the buses fell.

Weather conditions improved Saturday and search teams were able to cover more ground in the hunt for the missing buses and passengers. Heavy equipment had cleared much of the landslides from the highway, making it easier to reach the area as rescuers expanded their scope toward the southern region from where the first body was found, Bhusal said.

The government has imposed a ban on passenger buses traveling at night in the areas where weather warnings are posted, according to the Home Ministry.

Agencies