33 killed in Nepal bus accident

At least 33 people, including 12 women and a child, were killed and 25 injured when a bus carrying 100 passengers in Nepal's Rasuwa district veered off the road on Tuesday, police said.

The bus was heading from Kathmandu to district headquarters Dhunche.

The ill-fated bus, bound for Chilime area of Rasuwa from Kathmandu, skidded off the road and fell some 500 metres down a steep mountainside at around 12.45 p.m., said police.

According to the District Police Office, Rasuwa, the incident site is 12 km from Dhunche.

Chief District Officer Shiva Raj Gelal said 25 people were injured in the accident that occurred along the Pasang Lhamu road section.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Abadesh Bista said over 20 passengers have been sent to Kathmandu and remaining to the District Hospital, Dhunche.

Shiva Acharya, one of the passengers who escaped the incident after jumping from the bus, said the incident took place after the front wheel of the bus got punctured.

Security personnel from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force were pressed into service for the rescue operation.