BHOJPUR: As many as nine persons were injured after the bus they were travelling on crashed into a hillside in Bhojpur Municipality along Mid-Hill Highway of Bhojpur district on Sunday morning.

The injured have been identified as driver's assistant Arjun Limbu (30) of Jhapa, Sangita Pradhan (22), Bivek Shrestha (11), and Gobinda Pradhan (31) of Bhojpur Municipality-3, Manisha Shrestha (24), and Ashmita Shrestha (17) of Bhojpur-9, Gangadevi Rai (55) of Tyamkemaiyum Rural Municipality-3 in Bhojpur, Sabina Gautam (21) of Ratuwamai Municipality-7 in Morang, and Bus driver Santa Kumar Phago (35) of Chulachuli Rural Municipality-1 in Ilam, informed Police Inspector Pandav Rajbanshi at District Police Office, Bhojpur.

According to police, the incident occurred when the passenger bus (Me 1 Kha 3164) en route from Annapurna of Tyamkemaiyum Rural Municipality to Biratnagar crashed into a hillside while turning a corner at Siddheshwor at around 6:30 am today, injuring nine.

Among the injured, six are undergoing treatment at District Hospital, Bhojpur while three — Arjun Limbu, Sabina Gautam, and Manisha Shrestha — have been referred toBP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan for further treatment, added Inspector Rajbanshi.

According to Gupteshwor-based Police Post, there were 12 passengers at the time of the incident.

Meanwhile, further investigation into the case is underway, police said.