CHITWAN: At least eight people have lost their lives and 17 others have sustained injuries in a bus-truck collision at Chumlingtar in Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality-3 along Prithvi Highway in Chitwan district today.

The bus (Na 6 Kha 2506) en route to Pokhara fell into a gorge near Trishuli River after colliding head-on with the truck (Na 5 Kha 7409) coming from the opposite direction around 11:55 am this morning.

Among the casualties, five are men, two women and a kid.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Prabhu Prasad Dhakal, at the Chitwan District Police Office, identified the deceased as Arjun Neupane (32) of Begnas Kalika Rural Municipality in Palpa district, Sumit Shrestha (27), Kamala Shrestha (27) and Baburam Tiwari (40) from Tanahun district, Rabin Gurung (30) of Kathmandu, and Indian national Firoj Miya.

However, police are yet to ascertain a woman in her late teens and the kid.

Meanwhile, six victims are undergoing treatment at the Bharatpur-based College of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, four others are receiving treatment at Manakamana Hospital in Chitwan district.

Likewise, five others are undergoing treatment at Pokhara-based Manipal Hospital and one each in Chhauni Hospital and Gajuri Hospital.

According to an eye-witness, the incident occurred while the truck was reversing after a wash at a stream.

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