Bus plunges into river in western Nepal, killing 15

Bus plunges into river in western Nepal, killing 15

2011-12-19 06:34:53 GMT+7 (ICT)

KATHMANDU (BNO NEWS) -- At least fifteen people were killed on early Saturday evening when a passenger bus went off the road and plunged into a river in western Nepal, officials said on Sunday. Several others may be missing.

The accident happened at around 7.45 p.m. local time when a bus carrying more than 40 people veered off a road in the Baitadi District of the Mahakali zone, which is located near the border with India. The vehicle plunged more than 400 meters (1,310 feet) down a cliff before ending up in the Sang river.

As of Sunday afternoon, local police said at least fifteen people were confirmed to have been killed although some reports said the death toll could be higher as an unknown number of people are believed to be missing. Locals said rescue teams were having difficulties to collect the bodies which are scattered across the site.

At least four people were injured as a result of the accident, including a three-year-old child and two who were transferred to a hospital in the Bareilly district in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Their conditions were not immediately known.

According to The Himalayan newspaper, eyewitnesses said the accident may have been the result of speeding, causing the driver to lose control of his vehicle.

Last month, at least 18 people were killed when a tractor carrying Hindu devotees plunged into a canal in eastern Nepal. Police said the accident may have been caused by overcrowding as the tractor was carrying nearly 50 people at the time of the accident.

And in October, a total of 44 people were killed when a passenger bus lost control on the BP Highway in Nepal and plunged into the Sunkoshi River. The vehicle was carrying some 60 people and local media reported that some passengers were even sitting on the roof of the bus, but managed to survive by jumping off.

Accidents in Nepal are frequently blamed on reckless driving and bad roads due to poor maintenance, killing hundreds of people every year.

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