KATHMANDU: As many as 11 persons lost their lives and over 50 were injured when the bus they were travelling on veered off the road in Indrawati Rural Municipality of Sindhupalchok district on Friday.

The Helambu Yatayat bus (Ba 2 Kha 2715) en route to Kathmandu from Sipatar plunged around 60 metres below the road at around 10:00 am at Tikhukomod.

Locals are seen at the site where a bus (Ba 2 Kha 2715) -- en route to Kathmandu from Sipatar -- veered off the road, at Tikhukomod, in Indrawati Rural Municipaltity of Sindupalchok district, on Friday, October 11, 2019. Photo: RSS

According to Sindhupalchok Police, five people died on the spot, one on the way for treatment, and five more at a health facility during the course of treatment. Rough road and overload have been presumed to be the causes of the accident, added police.

The bus, which was carrying passengers returning to Kathmandu after celebrating Dashain, had only been on the road for about an hour when the incident occurred.

Police are in the process of ascertaining the identities of the deceased and figuring out the number of people injured. Those injured have been sent to Dhulikhel Hospital of Kavre district and other Kathmandu based health-facilities.

Meanwhile, rescue operations are being carried out by police teams from Chautara, Melamchi, Nawalpur and Bhimtar.