The toll from last week's deadly bus accident in Nepal on Monday rose to 47 including one Indian as rescue operations entered in its fourth day.
The bus carrying more than 50 people had skidded off a narrow stretch in Jajarkot district's mountainous region and plunged into Bheri river in western Nepal on Thursday. On day one, officials had confirmed that five people were killed and around 45 remained missing.
The bus, which had completely submerged into the water soon after it fell around 80 metres off the road, was partially fished out today.
Sakil Miya, 29, of Raxual, Bihar was among those who lost their lives as the death toll today climbed to 47. Yesterday, officials had retrieved bodies of 42 more persons from the strong water currents of Bheri River.
According to the Jajarkot District Police Office, some passengers are still estimated to be missing.
There were only 45 people named in the official passenger list, but officials believe that the driver had accommodated extra travellers without registering them.
Apart from an Indian, rest of the victims are said to be locals. Many of them were youth heading for employment.
"At least 12 people are still missing," said DSP Dinesh Raj Mainali, chief of District Police Office Jajarkot, adding that 32 bodies have been identified, whereas 15 are yet to be identified.
Some of the bodies had crushed under the bus which made it difficult for the divers to recover.
As many as 30 Nepali Army personnel, 60 from Nepal Police, 25 from Armed Police Force and four swimmers were deployed for rescue operation. Locals and kin of the missing were also involved in the search operation. A team of deep divers, supported by rafters, have also been pressed into service.
Road accidents are frequent in Nepal. Bad roads, driver's negligence, over speed and overloading were the main reasons behind these accidents, police said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}