Trishuli jeep fall: 3 killed, ex-minister Madhav Ghimire among 3 others missing

CHITWAN: A jeep carrying seven persons including former Minister for Home Affairs Madhav Ghimire has gone missing in the Trishuli River on Sunday afternoon.

Whereas three bodies were recovered, three including Ghimire are still missing. The car driver Bishnu Rai is rescued injured.

Onlookers gather at a point of Prithvi Highway after a jeep carrying former minister Madhav Ghimire plunged into the Trishuli River, killing at least three, in Chitwan district, on Sunday, September 25, 2016. Photo: Shiva Khanal
Onlookers gather at a point of Prithvi Highway after a jeep carrying former minister Madhav Ghimire plunged into the Trishuli River, killing at least three, in Chitwan district, on Sunday, September 25, 2016. Photo: Shiva Khanal

The deceased are Ghimire's mother Chaitanya Kumari Ghimire (80), his nephew Narayan Kafle and Ghimire's bodyguard Armed Police Force ASI Ram Chandra Karki, informed Chief District Officer Binod Prakash Singh.

Two missing are Madhav Ghimire's younger brothers Prakash and Mohan, according to police.

Police said the Scorpio SUV (Ba 9 Cha 1531) had plunged into the mighty river from the Prithvi Highway at Ghoptebhir, Darechok-3 of Chitwan district at around 4 pm today.

The river is around 150 metres down the road.

It has been learned that they were returning to Kathmandu from Muktinath of Mustang via Pokhara of Kaski.

Search for the missing in underway, according to CDO Singh.

Meanwhile, Rai is undergoing treatment at the College of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Bharatpur. He is said to be critical.

Rai reportedly told police that the former minister was driving the vehicle from Damauli as he wanted to give some rest to the driver.

Madhav Ghimire was the Minister for Home Affairs as well as Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Khil Raj Regmi-led Interim Council of Ministers in 2013-14.

Before serving as the minister, Ghimire was Chief Secretary of the government from August 6, 2009 to August 5, 2012.

Updated