8 Killed, 15 Hurt As Bus Plunges Into River In Nepal's Bagmati

At least eight people died and fifteen others got injured after a passenger bus plunged into a river in Nepal's Bagmati province.

At least eight people died and 15 were injured in Nepal's Kathmandu after a passenger bus skidded off the main highway and fell into a swollen river in Bagmati province on Wednesday. The accident took place while the bus was en route to the scenic city of Pokhara from Kathmandu. The wheels of the vehicle veered off and it fell into the Trishuli River at Chalise in the province's Dhading district, PTI reported citing myRepublica.com. 

Speaking about the incident, Deputy Superintendent of Police Santulal Prasad Jaiswar at the District Police Office, Dhading, said, "In the accident, at least eight people have been killed and 15 more injured. The number of those killed might go up. Rescue is ongoing." He further stated that the bus was partly submerged in the Trishuli River after the accident, however, the rescuers on the spot were able to pull out many of the passengers alive, news agency PTI reported.

The river had been swollen due to incessant rainfall in Nepal during the monsoon season. Usually, highway accidents in Nepal, which are mostly covered by mountains, are blamed on the poor maintenance of vehicles and roads. 

“Thirteen people with serious injuries have been taken to Kathmandu for further treatment while other injured passengers are undergoing treatment at the Gajuri Hospital,” District Police Office, Dhading Superintendent Gautam Mishra told the Kathmandu Post.

He said that the police are yet to ascertain the total number of passengers present on the bus during the accident.

Senior police constable Surbir Bumi of the Area Police Office, Gajuri, said that police personnel have been mobilised for the rescue, reported the Kathmandu Post.