Sunkoshi bus plunge: 14 of 17 deceased identified

SUKUTE, Nov 3: The identity of 14 of the 17 people who were killed in the bus accident that took place at Sukute along the Araniko highway in Sindhupalchowk district has been revealed.

The accident occurred when a passenger bus (Ba 2 Kha 7245) en route to Kathmandu from Mude Deurali of Dolakha fell 35 meters down into the Sunkoshi river at around 1:15 pm today afternoon. The bus was reportedly carrying more than 40 passengers.

According to District Police Office, Sindhupalchowk, the deceased have been identified as Chet Kumari Basnet, 52, Sailung-6, Dolakha, Salina Tamang, 6, three months old Roshan Tamang, Chameli Shrestha,27 and Nirmala Khadka, 32, of Sailung-3, Ratna Kumari Rawat, 45, Kiran Rawat, 29, Kabita Rawat, 20, Nikhil Khadka, 14, of Sailung-5, and Dil Lama, 14, of Sailung-4.

Likewise, Sajina Tamang, 5, of Kavre Roshi-4, Urmaya Tamang,70, of Dolakha, Ranjita KC, 24, of Bhimeswar Municipality-9, Maya Shrestha, 6, of Tripura Sundari-4, Sindhupalchowk also lost their lives in the accident, according to DSP Madhav Prasad Kafley.

Among the deceased, the identity of three children is yet to be known.

According to Chief District Officer of Sindhupalchowk Goma Devi Chemjong, 15 had died on the spot while two died while undergoing treatment at the hospital.

About twenty injured have been undergoing treatment in Sindhu Sadabar Hospital, Dhulikhel Hospital and Scheer Memorial Hospital, Banepa.

Many passengers are suspected to have been swept away by the river.

A team of Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and locals are carrying out rescue works.