35 bodies recovered from three vehicles in Jhyaplekhola

KATHMANDU: Rescue workers have recovered 35 bodies from three out of four vehicles buried by a landslide while en route to Kathmandu at Jhyaplekhola on the Kathmandu-Naubise road section in Dhading.

According to DSP Shailendra Thapa, the joint spokesperson for the Armed Police Force (APF), a Tata Winger van (Lu 1 Ja 4578) coming from Butwal, a Toyota Hiace (Ba 3 Kha 1345) coming from Chitwan, a passenger bus (Na 4 Kha 2270) coming from Gorkha, and a tourist bus (Ba 1 Pa 1388) coming from Pokhara were buried under the landslide.

All 14 passengers onboard the Winger van, 16 in the Toyota Hiace, and five in the passenger bus died. However, all passengers and crew of the tourist bus managed to escape, according to Thapa.

“A joint team of the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, and APF is involved in the search and rescue operations,” he added.

Thapa also said the road is expected to be opened for one-way traffic by Sunday evening.

The Kathmandu-Naubise road serves as the key entry point to Kathmandu Valley.