Trishuli bus plunge - death toll reaches 30, identities of 20 ascertained

Malekhu - The death toll from the Trishuli River bus plunge in Dhading early this morning has reached 30. Among the dead, identities of 20 have been ascertained. 

According to the Dhading Police, until this evening, 20 victims have been identified. They are Sisipi Kumari Jha, 35, of Tilathi Koiladi Rural Municipality-6, Ranjit Kumar Jha, of ward no. 3 of the same rural municipality and Anjit Kumar Jha, 33, of ward no. 1. 

Likewise six-year-old Aditya Yadav of Bodebarsain Rural Municipality-2, Chandrarekha Pranami of ward no. 3 of the same rural municipality, Ramanand Yadav, Parbati Yadav, 25, and three-year-old Sushan Chaudhary of Nereya, Saptari are among those killed in the accident. 

Bus helper Naresh Mukhiya of Deurimaruwa, Chandrawati Jha, 74, Rajbiraj Municipality, Raj Kumar Yadav, 50, of Golbazar-8, Siraha and Mamatadevi Thakur of Madhuwani, India who lost their lives to the accident have been identified, as stated by Area Police Office Gajuri's police inspector Barun Singh. 

The other indentified deceased are Sudhira Yadav, 28, of Krishnabasaran Rural Municipality-4, five-year-old Sadiksha Yadav of the same locality, Surendra Chaudhary of Basej, Aski Kumari Yadav of Bodebarsaine Rural Municipality-2, Rhishi Anandadev of Rajbiraj Municipality-13, Uday Mandal, 30, of Siraha, Pramod Isar of Mahadeva Rural Municipality-9, and Aditya Jha, 20, of Rajbiraj Municipality-14. Police are trying to ascertain the identities of remaining 10. 

The bus ( Na 6 Kha 1467) en route to Kathmandu from Rajbiraj of Saptari had gone missing in the Trishuli River after falling from the turning point at Ghatbesi in Gajuri Rural Municipality along the Prithvi Highway in Dhading at 5:00 am this morning. Later, 15 were rescued alive and among the injured, Durganand Chaudhary and Abhishek Chaudhary of Rajbiraj-6 were flown to Kathmandu and they are being treated at the Trauma Centre while others are receiving treatment at the Gajuri Hospital. 

Over-speed is blamed for the fatal accident of the overcrowded bus. Passengers were finding it difficult to fix themselves in the seat due to over-speed, as reported by injured Manoj Kumar Thakur. 

The Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Nepal Army, locals and the Nepal Red Cross Society have been mobilised for the rescue efforts.