KATHMANDU: Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Devendra Dahal on Thursday offered condolences to the families of missing passengers of two buses that were swept into the rain-swollen Trishuli River by the landslide on July 12.
Answering questions raised by lawmakers in the meeting of the House of Representatives on Thursday, Minister Dahal said rescue workers have not been able to recover “bodies of missing passengers”.
“There is no certainty that they are alive. While there is hope as long as we do not find evidence to the contrary, the fact remains that they are still missing. Their families and we continue to hope, but their whereabouts remain unknown,” he said. “I want to pay tributes to the missing passengers and offer my condolences to their families.”
A total of 62 passengers were on the two buses. Rescue workers have recovered 25 bodies. However, only 19 have been identified.