16 killed in road accident in Far West Nepal

At least 16 people were killed after a bus ferrying passengers fell into a river in Dadeldhura District of Far Western Nepal.

The bus belonging to the Peace Zone Bidhya Niketan School was used to ferry the pilgrims who came to Dadeldhura from Doti to attend a religious fair at Ugratara Temple.

"At least of 16 people have died in the accident, 10 of them died on the spot whereas 6 took their last breath while undergoing treatment in the District hospital," Mohan Raj Joshi, Chief District Officer of Dadeldhura told ANI.

"The bus fell off the road into the river about 200 meters below at Raduwa in Amargadi-11 which lies on the Dr. KI Singh Highway this evening, an additional of 26 people are undergoing treatment," Joshi added.

The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained, while the rescue and the search operation is underway.

"The rescue and search operation is still underway; as the accident occurred late in the evening and it's already dark here, we are facing the problem in carrying out the operation. The identity of the deceased is yet to be established," Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Dambar Bahadur KC at the District Police Office informed ANI.

The annual fair held at Ugratara Temple in Dadeldhura draws hundreds of pilgrims from all around Nepal, especially from the adjoining districts.