KATHMANDU: A five-year-old minor was killed and 41 others were  injured, six seriously, when a passenger bus fell some 15 metres below the road in Thulo Sirubari of Chautara Sangachokgadhi Municipality of Sindhupalchok district this morning.

The deceased has been identified as Sujata Nepal, a permanent resident of Chautara Sangachokgadhi-13 in the district.

According to DSP Shyam Adhikari at the Sindhupalchok District Police Office, the ill-fated bus (Ba 2 Kha 2702) was heading towards Kathmandu from Sindhupalchok when it met with the accident at around 11:30 am today.

"The bus was trying to give way to a motorcycle (Ba 64 Pa 3426) coming from the opposite direction, but both the vehicles fell down the narrow road, along the Bandeu-Chautara road section," added Adhikari.

The motorcycle rider is yet to be identified but he has fractured his spine, further stated  Adhikari.

Those seriously injured have been referred to Kathmandu-based B&B Hospital for treatment. Others with minor injuries are undergoing treatment at the Dhulikhel Hospital.

Police have arrested driver Krishana Bahadur Giri of Thulo Sirubari, Sindhupalchok, for further investigation.