CHITWAN: As many as eight persons died and 17 others sustained injuries when a passenger bus collided with a truck on Prithvi Highway and plunged onto Trishuli River bank in Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality-3 of Chitwan district on Friday.

The deceased have been identified as Arjun Neupane (32) of Begnas Kalika Rural Municipality, Palpa; Sumit Shrestha (27) of Bhanu Municipality, Tanahun; Kamala Shrestha (27) of Bhansar, Tanahun; Baburam Tiwari (40) of Keshavtar, Tanahun; Rabin Gurung (30) of Kathmandu; and an Indian national Phiroj Miya.

Identity of a girl in her late teens and an infant aged between two and three years is yet to be ascertained.

As for the injured, six of them are receiving treatment at the College of Medical Sciences in Bharatpur and five others at Manipal Teaching Hospital in Pokhara. Similarly, four of the injured are receiving treatment at Manakamana Hospital in Bharatpur, one each is being treated at Chhauni Hospital in Kathmandu and Gajuri Hospital in Dhading. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Prabhu Prasad Dhakal at District Police Office, Chitwan, condition of five among the injured is critical.

The bus was heading for Pokhara from Kathmandu when it rammed into a truck which was emerging from a rivulet after a wash, and fell on the bank of Trishuli River. Following the incident, police teams from Mugling-based Area Police Office, Jogimara Police Post, District Police Office, Chitwan, along with police teams from Dhading and the Armed Police Force Disaster Management Training Centre of Kurintar had reached the site for rescue.

“Though the bus is said to have been carrying 30 to 32 passengers, we’re yet to confirm it,” said DSP Dhakal.

(UPDATED)

7 dead, 22 injured as bus plunges onto Trishuli River bank

CHITWAN: Seven persons have lost their lives and 22 others have been injured after the bus they were travelling on collided with a truck and plunged onto the bank of Trishuli River in Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality-3 of Chitwan district today.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police at Chitwan District Police Office, Prabhu Prasad Dhakal, five persons lost their lives on the spot and two died on the way to Bharatpur for treatment.

It has been learnt that one child, two women and four men were killed in the accident. The identities of the deceased are yet to be ascertained.

DSP Dhakal further informed that 22 other passengers have been rescued and taken to various medical facilities in Bharatpur for treatment.

The bus (Na 6 Kha 2506) en route from Kathmandu to Pokhara collided with the truck (Na 5 Kha 7409) heading from the opposite direction and plunged about 100 metres onto the bank of the river along Prithvi Highway, at Chumlingtar this afternoon. It has been indicated that there were 29 passengers on board the ill-fated bus.

(UPDATED)

Over two dozen hurt as bus plunges onto Trishuli River bank

CHITWAN: At least 29 people have been injured after the bus they were travelling on collided with a truck and plunged onto the bank of Trishuli River in Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality-3 of Chitwan district today.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police at District Police Office, Prabhu Prasad Dhakal, the bus (Na 6 Kha 2506) en route from Kathmandu to Pokhara collided with the truck (Na 5 Kha 7409) heading from the opposite direction and plunged about 100 metres onto the bank of the river along Prithvi Highway, at Chumlingtar this afternoon.

It has been reported that 22 passengers have been rescued and sent to Bharatpur Hospital for treatment while the rescue of six to seven others trapped in the ill-fated bus is ongoing.

The number of passengers travelling on the bus is yet to be ascertained, police informed.

Further details of the incident are awaited.