Kathmandu, 23 February (HS): At least 18 people were killed when a passenger bus plunged into the Trishuli River near Gajuri in Dhading district of Nepal early Monday morning, officials said.

The accident occurred at around 1.30 am when the bus, travelling towards Kathmandu from Pokhara, fell into the river along the Prithvi Highway, approximately 90 kilometres west of the capital.

According to Bishnu Prasad Bhatta, spokesperson for the Armed Police Force, 17 bodies were recovered from the site and 28 injured passengers were rescued from the vehicle. The injured have been admitted to various hospitals for treatment.

Personnel from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police were deployed to carry out rescue and recovery operations at the scene.

Authorities said that one of the deceased was a male passenger from New Zealand. Among the injured were a Japanese national and a Dutch national, both women. Police said the exact cause of the accident is yet to be determined, though overspeeding is suspected as a possible factor.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar