Vehicle Missing, Passengers Feared Lost After Plunge into Karnali River

Surkhet – More than 10 hours after a passenger vehicle plunged into the Karnali River from Chamunda Bindrasaini Municipality–7, Sangetada (Chisapani) in Dailekh, rescue teams have yet to locate the vehicle.

The Force vehicle (Registration No. Karnali Province 02-001 Kha 1055), operated by Bulbule Transport Pvt. Ltd., was traveling from Birendranagar, Surkhet, to Raskot in Kalikot when it veered off the road and fell approximately 400 meters into the Karnali River at around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday.According to the Karnali Province Police Office, the vehicle departed Surkhet Bus Park with five passengers. However, officials have not been able to confirm the total number of people on board, as several passengers are believed to have boarded the vehicle along the route.Police said the rising water level and muddy conditions in the Karnali River have made rescue operations extremely difficult. The submerged vehicle has not yet been located.

One body was recovered from a cliff where it had become lodged, but the deceased has not yet been identified. All other passengers remain missing.Karnali Province Police spokesperson Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Santosh Singh Rathour said the cause of the accident is still under investigation”The vehicle lost control and plunged nearly 400 meters into the Karnali River. Some passengers reportedly boarded the vehicle en route, so we have not yet confirmed the exact number of passengers. The river’s water level continues to rise, and the muddy water has made it impossible to locate the vehicle,” Rathour said.A team of divers from the Armed Police Force’s Maheshwar Battalion has also been deployed to assist in the search.Karnali Province Police Chief Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Jayaraj Sapkota, who is at the accident site, said the challenging geography has significantly complicated rescue efforts.”There is a steep cliff above and the Karnali River below. Rescue teams have been deployed from all directions, but we have not yet been able to locate the vehicle,” he said.

Nearly 100 personnel from the Provincial Police Office, District Police Office, and nearby police units have been mobilized. Teams from the Armed Police Force and the Upper Karnali Hydropower Project Security Base are also assisting in the operation.As rescue efforts remained unsuccessful by late Thursday evening, officials said divers would continue the search from Friday morning. The accident site is located about three kilometers north of the Paltada Police Post.