DHADING, FEBRUARY 23 At least 17 people, including two foreign nationals, were killed when a passenger bus plunged into the Trishuli River at Charaundi in Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality–7 of Dhading along the Prithvi Highway early Monday. The Kathmandu-bound bus (Ga 1 Kha 1421) was en route from Pokhara when it veered off the road and fell some 300 meters below into the river. According to police, 44 passengers were believed to be on board at the time of the accident. Of the deceased, 11 are men and six women. The two foreign nationals who lost their lives include one man and one woman. A total of 26 injured passengers were rescued and rushed to various hospitals for treatment. While some are undergoing treatment at local health facilities, the majority have been referred to hospitals in Kathmandu. Security personnel from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, along with local residents, carried out the rescue operation. Meanwhile, the Prithvi Highway Bus Operators' Committee stated that the bus had departed from Pokhara's Tourist Bus Park at 7:00 pm on Sunday carrying 34 passengers, along with the driver and two staff members. Committee chair Ain Bahadur Sai said 37 people, including the driver and bus staff, were on board when the bus left Pokhara, adding that additional passengers are believed to have boarded along the route. Detailed verification of passenger numbers is still underway, authorities stated. Further details of the accident are awaited. (With inputs from RSS)