Debris flow risks in homes and highways

Our rescue-centric preparedness is in place, but it’s far from effectively preventing risks.

In the early hours of July 12, a massive debris flow in what was normally considered a small gully—locally called Sindure Kholsi at Simaltal on the Muglin-Narayanghat road—swept two night buses carrying a total of 62 passengers into the Trishuli River, a major tributary of Gandaki River. Although the rescue operation began immediately, two weeks of searching yielded only 24 bodies , while 35 others and the buses they were travelling in are still missing. Three of the passengers managed to swim to safety.