2 from E Champaran among 22 killed in Nepal accident

Raxaul: At least 22 persons drowned in the flooded Trishuli at Kalikhola near Chitawan when the private night service bus they were travelling in fell into the river in the wee hours on Friday. The bus was on way to Pokhara from Gaur (Rautahat district).
In a press release, the police said five injured passengers from Sitamarhi were identified as Rajesh Gupta (28), Ritesh Gupta (26), Sugandhi Gupta (25), Sweta (4) and Akash (4).Eight of the ten identified deceased were natives of Gaur and two belonged to East Champaran district in Bihar.
According to police sources, 22 passengers drowned and 17 were seriously injured. The driver of the bus escaped unhurt and ran away. Out of the 17 injured, five passengers belong to Sitamarhi district in Bihar. They have been admitted to Bharatpur Medical College and Hospital.
Chitawan SP Basant Kumar suspected that the driver lost control when the bus was passing through the national highway in the mountainous terrain. The police patrol party saw the bus in the river and started rescue operation. The injured were admitted to the hospital. The police and divers have been pressed into service to fish out the bodies. The driver is absconding.