DHADING: At least five persons died, 16 sustained injuries and 30 are reported missing as the passenger bus they were travelling in skidded off the road and plunged into Trishuli river at Salanghat in Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality-3 of Dhading district in the wee hours of Friday.

District Police Office, Dhading identified the deceased as Raj Narayan Rauniyar, his wife Shova Rauniyar, and Saurabh Rauniyar, all residents of Brahmapuri Rural Municipality-4 in Sarlahi district. All died on the spot.

Police recovered two unidentified bodies on the riverbank near Muglin this afternoon. With this, the death toll has climbed to five, according to police. The deceased persons are said to be residents of Brahamapuri Rural Municipality in Sarlahi district. However, police are yet to ascertain their identities.

According to the Gajuri-based Area Police Office, the bus (Na 6 Kha 7469) heading towards Kathmandu from Malangwa of Sarlahi district fell 100 metres down the road into the river along Prithvi Highway, at around 3:30 am today, killing five persons and injuring 16. Moreover, 30 others have gone missing.

After receiving information about the incident, Gajuri-based Area Police Office, District Police Office, Dhading, Adamghat-based Armed Police Force, Devi Datta Battalion based in Gajuri, Red Cross Society's rescue team immediately reached the accident site and carried out rescue operation, DPO Chief Raj Kumar Baidawar, said.

The injured persons are undergoing treatment at local health facilities in Gajuri and Highway Community Health in Malekhu. However, 10 injured persons have been referred to Trauma Centre in Kathmandu for further treatment, police said.

Meanwhile, security personnel have been carrying out search operation of the missing passengers in the river.

Security personnel putting effort to rescue passengers of the bus partly submerged in Trishuli River, at Salanghat, in Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality-3, of Dhading district, on Friday, August 9, 2019. Photo: Keshav Adhikari/THT