SURKHET: Six divers from the Armed Police Force (APF) Nepal No. 6 Maheshwari Division Headquarters, Surkhet, have been redeployed since 8:00 AM today to search for a passenger van and its occupants that plunged into the Karnali River on Thursday.

The vehicle (registration number Ka Pra 02-001 Kha 1055) had departed from Surkhet for Kalikot at 8:00 AM on Thursday.

Around 11:30 AM, it met with an accident and fell into the Karnali River at Sangetada in Chamundabindrasaini Municipality-7, Dailekh.

According to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Jayaraj Sapkota of the Karnali Province Police Office, Surkhet, the search resumed today after divers failed to find anything during a five-hour search on Thursday.

“Not only has the water level risen, but the river’s current is also extremely rapid. The water is muddy, and there is no direct access to the crash site. We are having to conduct the search from the Achham district side,” DIG Sapkota stated. “One unconscious man who was trapped on a cliff was rescued, but he unfortunately passed away while being rushed to the hospital. The identity and address of the deceased have not yet been established.”

A joint rescue team—including personnel from the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and the Nepali Army—has been deployed to the site, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Shrawan BK from the District Police Office, Dailekh.

According to police records, seven people have been officially confirmed to be on board so far.

This includes three passengers who boarded at the Surkhet bus park, two who boarded at Dungeshwar in Dailekh, along with the driver and the helper.

The spot where the vehicle fell 400 meters down into the Karnali River is located three kilometers north of the Dailekh Police Post and 50 kilometers west of the District Police Office, Dailekh.