14 killed, 15 injured in bus accident in Central Nepal

APD NEWS

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At least 14 people were killed when a passenger bus slipped off a highway and plunged into a river in Dhading District of Central Nepal on Saturday morning, officials said.

"Fourteen bodies were recovered from the crash site while 15 injured are receiving treatment at local hospitals," Ram Mani Mishra, an official at Dhading District Administration, told Xinhua from the crash site.

An injured passenger of the bus accident receives treatment at the Trauma Center in Kathmandu, Nepal, Oct. 28, 2017. At least 14 people were killed when a passenger bus slipped off a highway and plunged into a river in Dhading District of Central Nepal on Saturday morning, officials said

According to Mishra, the bus were carrying nearly 40 people when the accident happened.

"We are yet to confirm the number of passengers," he said.

Police have intensified rescue operation and the death toll is expected to rise, he said.

Authorities have not been able to pull out the ill-fated bus from the river yet.

The passenger bus number 'Na 6 Kha 1467' skidded off the highway at 5 a.m (local time) on Saturday when it was en route to Kathmandu from Rajbiraj of eastern Nepal.

Authorities are yet to ascertain the cause of the latest bus accident. The poor condition of hilly roads and ill-maintained vehicles contribute to frequent road accidents in the Himalayan nation.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)