40 people killed in Nepal as crowded bus falls into river

Kathmandu - 13 Oct 2011 (PTI): At least 40 people were killed on Thursday when a crowded passenger bus skidded off a hilly road and fell intoSunkoshi riverin eastern Nepal.

The bus plunged into the river at Ritthebhir area in Jhangajholi village of Sindhuli district, 150 km east of Kathmandu, killing 40 people and injuring 16 others, police said.

However, 11 people traveling on the roof of the bus managed to jump off as the bus went out of control. The bus was en route to the capital.

Police and rescue workers carried out rescue work with the help of locals. The injured passengers have been brought toKathmandufor medical treatment, police said.

This is the biggestbus accident in Nepalafter the Vijaya Dashami festival. Although the exact reason of the accident could not be known yet, it is presumed that overload might have caused the accident.

The dilapidated roads, old public transport vehicles and overcrowded bus are the main causes of highway accidents in Nepal.