Four days after a bus plunged into the Karnali river in Dailekh district, rescue teams have yet to locate the vehicle.

Search operations by the Nepali Army, Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force have been hampered by the river’s strong current and muddy water, with authorities deploying a helicopter, drones and specialised water-rescue teams to continue the search.

The vehicle was travelling from Surkhet to Raskot in Kalikot when it veered off the road and fell hundreds of metres into the Karnali river at Sangetada in ward 7 of Chamundabindrasaini Municipality at around 11:30 am on Thursday. As of Sunday, the condition of the vehicle and the exact number of passengers on board remained unknown.

Deputy Inspector General Jayaraj Sapkota, chief of the Karnali Province Police Office, said the river’s heavy flow and poor visibility had made the operation difficult. Despite continuous searches downstream from the crash site, no trace of the vehicle had been found.

“We have not located the vehicle yet, and we are still unable to confirm how many people were travelling in it,” Sapkota said. “The chiefs of all security agencies are leading their respective teams at different points along the Karnali River.”

According to records from the transport company, only five passengers had purchased tickets before departure. However, police believe additional passengers may have boarded the minibus along the route. No entry record of the vehicle was found at police checkpoints along the highway.

Police said one body, found lodged on a cliff near the accident site, has been recovered so far. The victim has been identified, but the whereabouts of the other passengers remain unknown.

Sapkota said a total of 176 personnel from the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and the Nepali Army have been mobilised for the operation.

The North-West Division Headquarters of the Nepali Army said around 70 soldiers have been deployed along the Karnali river from the accident site to Bardiya district. They are being supported by 36 APF personnel and 70 Nepal Police officers, including divers and disaster-response teams.

Major General Dipesh Jung Shah said the army was using a helicopter and drone cameras to conduct aerial surveillance of likely locations along the river.

“The muddy water, strong current and lack of advanced underwater search equipment have made the operation challenging,” Shah said.

Security officials said the search would be intensified once the river flow subsides. The three security agencies are continuing the joint rescue and search operation to determine the condition of the vehicle and locate those missing in the crash.