CHITWAN: A man went missing after an empty fuel tanker he was driving plunged into the Trishuli River at Chandibhanjyang along the Narayangadh-Muglin road section, on Tuesday night.

The missing driver has been identified as Umesh Tamang (25) of Amlekhgunj in Bara.

The ill-fated tanker (Na 4 Kha 4143) was en route to Bara from Kathmandu when it fell into the River at around 11:40 pm last night, informed Superintendent of Police Deepak Thapa of the Chitwan District Police Office.

The search and rescue operation began the same night, Thapa added.

Meanwhile, assistant driver Pradeep Lama (25) of Amalekhgunj in Bara was injured in the accident.

He is undergoing treatment at the College of Medical Sciences and is reportedly out of danger.

Lama had swum to safety after the tanker submerged, police informed.

According to Lama, the tanker fell downhill while trying to overtake another vehicle.

(With inputs from Rastriya Samachar Samiti)