SURKHET: The Karnali Provincial Government has requested the Ministry of Home Affairs for additional assistance and coordination to search for a Force van that plunged into the Karnali River. The Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers sent a formal letter to the ministry to this effect.

The passenger van (registration number Ka Pra 02-001 Kha 1055), heading towards Kalikot from Surkhet, veered off the Karnali Highway and fell into the river on Thursday at the Sangetada area in Chamundabindrasaini Municipality-7 of Dailekh district.

Following the accident, personnel from the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and local residents were immediately deployed to the site to launch a search and rescue operation. While one passenger’s body has been recovered so far, the provincial government stated that the condition of the submerged vehicle and the remaining passengers onboard is still unknown.

As the current manpower deployed at the crash site has proven insufficient, the provincial government has urged the Home Ministry to step in with more resources and necessary coordination to intensify the search and rescue efforts.