In Nepal 39 bodies have so far been recovered from the canal in which a bus, carrying passengers, including Indians largely from Maharajgunj district of Uttar Pradesh had plunged in a canal in Nawalparasi district on Sunday.

Of these 36 are reported to be Indian nationals. So far 27 persons have been rescued alive. Of these 10 are Indian nationals. The injured have been admitted to Nawalparasi and Chaupata hospitals in Nepal. The death toll is expected to rise as more bodies are being recovered from the canal.

According to external affairs ministry in New Delhi, the Nepalese authorities have reached the spot and are coordinating the relief and rescue operations. The Gandak barrage flow has been restricted to facilitate their operations.

Nepalese Authorities said that a tourist passenger bus, travelling to Triveni in Nepal met with an accident and plunged into the Gandak canal near India-Nepal border.The Indian Embassy has sent special teams, including a medical doctor, to the accident site to assist Nepalese authorities in the relief and rescue operations. An information centre and control room have been established in the Embassy of India, Kathmandu. The phone numbers of the information centre are
00-977-1-4412125
00-977-1-4411699, extn 4109

The authorities of Indian districts adjoining the border have also rushed to the spot. The Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) contingent deployed on the nearest border has also been mobilized to provide assistance.