PHIDIM: As many as 23 persons sustained injuries in a bus accident in Panchthar district headquarters Phidim on Sunday morning.

Three of them are reported to be in the critical condition.

The bus (Me 1 Kha 650) heading to Taplejung from Birtamod of Jhapa had skidded off the road near Bhandari Golai of Phidim-2 today.

Three of the injured – Dhan Bahadur Thapa (56) and Bhakta Maya Thapa (63) from Amarpur-7 of Panchthar and Arjun Kunwar (50) from Ambegudin of Taplejung  - are critical. After their treatment was impossible at the Pancthar District Hospital, they have been rushed to Jhapa and Sunsari.

Other 20 are undergoing treatment at the District Hospital.

Police surmised that the bus had met with the accident while the driver was stopping the over-speeding vehicle.