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Death toll in Dang bus accident reaches 20

The death toll in Dang bus accident has reached 20 with over three dozens injured and many more still missing, reports said.

The tragedy occurred Monday morning after an overloaded passenger bus (Na 2 Kha), heading from Krishnanagar of Kapilvastu district to Swargadwari of Pyuthan, skidded off the road and plunged into Rapti River, some 150 meters below, at Bagasati VDC in Dang district.

According to the District Police Office, although 20 bodies have been recovered so far the identities of only ten have been ascertained. They are: Bal Krishna Karki, Ram Prasad Chudali, Sudrin Miya and Khim Bahadur Rawat of Arghakhanchi district, Kashmira Khatun and Kusum Khatun of Pyuthan, wife of one Rajesh Sunar and his 11-month old baby girl of the same district, Magar Kainla of Kapilvastu district, and bus owner Shiva Kumar Gupta of Bhaluwang, Dang. Many injured passengers are said to be in critical condition and have been taken to Nepalgunj for medical treatment.

Army and police personnel along with some YCL cadres have started rescue works at the site to find some 30 passengers who are said to be still missing. However, due to lack of cranes and rescue equipments they have been having difficulty in finding any survivors.

The bus had plunged into Rapti River after hitting the wall of the bridge on the road. Reports said that some 35 people on board the bus were from India. They were all on a pilgrimage in Nepal. nepalnews.com ag May 19 08