Nawalparasi, July 17

Nine persons were killed and 11 injured when a commuter bus collided head on with a truck bearing at Daunne of Nawalparasi along the East West Highway this morning.

Inspector Ramesh Kumar Panthi at Dumkibas Area Police Office said the accident occurred when a bus, which was on its way to Dang from Narayangarh, collided head on with a truck coming from opposite direction at Daunne.

All the deceased were bus passengers.

Of those injured, 10 were on board the bus, while one is the truck driver.

Inspector Panthi said six people died on the spot, two breathed their last while being rushed to the hospital while one succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Inspector Panthi identified the five deceased as Jivan Khadka, 32, and Govind Basnet, 45, of Dang; Sumitra Lama, 23; Kawasoti, her seven-month-old daughter Anshu and Maili Lama, 50, of Nawalparasi. Identities of two males and two females were yet to be established, added Panthi.

Of the injured, eight have been sent to Chitwan-based Bharatpur Medical College, while the remaining two are being treated at a local health centre. Police suspect that the accident took place due to over-speeding and negligence on the part of the drivers.