KATHMANDU: As many as 21 people were injured when a passenger bus they were travelling on met with an accident at Maisthan in Bardibas Municipality of Mahottari district on Sunday night.

The bus (Na 5 Kha 1521), en route to Biratnagar of Morang district from Birgunj of Parsa district, skidded off the road and fell some five metres down after the driver lost control of the vehicle, police said.

Five of the injured are said to be in critical condition.

Three of them have been brought to the Capital and are undergoing treatment at the Gwarko-based B&B Hospital, while two others are admitted to the Biratnagar-based Neuro-Cardio & Multispeciality Hospital, according to the Area Police Office (APO), Bardibas.

Other injured are receiving treatment at locals hospitals in Mahottari.

Police said the driver fled the scene after the incident.