KATHMANDU: Three persons died and at least 25 others sustained injuries in a bus accident at Harre Danda in Bheriganga Municipality-5 of Surkhet district, today.

The incident occurred when the bus (Na 4 Kha 9317) -- belonging to Bheriganga Bus Transport Committee -- en route to Nepalgunj from Radi, Aathbiskot Municipality of Rukum West via Jajarkot fell about 100 metres below the road at Emalemode between Harke and Babai at around 4:00 am, informed District Traffic Police Office, Surkhet. The possible cause of the accident has been reported as failure of the brakes.

Identities of the deceased are yet to be ascertained.

The injured are currently receiving treatment at Kohalpur Medical College, in Banke district. "Twenty-five injured persons have been sent to Nepalgunj for treatment; we are still figuring out the number of casualties," informed the District Police Office (DPO), Surkhet.

Teams of security personnel from DPO-Surkhet, Area Police Office-Chhinchu, District Traffic Police Office-Surkhet, and Temporary Police Post-Babai are at the incident site for rescue operations.