KATHMANDU: At least five persons died as a passenger bus ferrying dozens of people from Dharan to Myanglung fell around 100 metres down the road in Gadhibhir of Myanglung in Terhathum district of east Nepal on Sunday.

While three persons died on the spot, two succumbed to injuries at the District Hospital in Myanglung, police said.

Other 26 injured are undergoing treatment at the same health facility, police said.

A preliminary investigation attributed the accident to the brake failure, according to the chief of District Traffic Police Office, Bhagendra Purush Dhakal.

Meanwhile, police arrested the driver 50-year-old Bam Bahadur Parajuli for further investigation. He too has sustained minor injuries.

(Updated)

Three of the victims identified

Meanwhile, police identified three persons killed on the spot.

They are Guman Singh Limbu (43) from Simle-7, Kali Maya Limbu (45) from Simle-4 of Terhathum and Anjali Yakhkha from Mamling-4 of Sankhuwasabha, police said.

Those who succumbed to the injuries at the District Hospital are yet to be identified.

Meanwhile, the 13 critically injured have been referred to the Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences.

(Updates from our Panchthar correspondent Laxmi Gautam) 

Casualties suspected as bus falls off road in Terhathum

KATHMANDU: Casualties have been suspected as a passenger bus ferrying dozens of people from Dharan to Myanglung fell around 100 metres down the road in Gadhibhir of Myanglung in Terhathum district of east Nepal on Sunday.

A police staffer from the District Police Office told THT Online over phone that the bus (Na 4 Kha 2865) met with the accident at around 2:15 pm today.

"Police are rescuing the injured passengers," he said, "Other details are awaited."