Fourteen people died on the spot when a passenger bus veered off the road and plunged 500 metres down at Kalikhola at around 6:45pm. Four others succumbed to injures during treatment later.

One of the latest victim to die is the bus driver, Min Bahadur Buda, 28, of Chhinchhu-7, Surkhet. He died while being taken to Nepalgunj for further treatment. Another victim has been identified as Kune Sarki, 40, of Gotri-1, Bajura. He breathed his last while receiving treatment at Nepalgunj-based Teaching Hospital today.

Three seriously injured have been referred to Luknow, India from Nepalgunj. Bire Sarki, Kalu Sarki and Rupesh Sarki have been taken to the Luknow from Nepalgunj-based Teaching Hospital where seven others are receiving treatment.

Police said that 14 persons died on the spot and four others breathed their last while receiving treatment.

According to Surkhet Police Chief SP Rajesh Lal Karna, initial investigations showed the bus with the capacity to carry 38 people was overloaded with 68 passengers, resulting in the accident due to brake failure. .

The police have established the identity of 10 deceased.

Forty nine people were injured in the accident. Of the injured, 20 are receiving medical treatment at Surkhet Regional Hospital, 6 are being treated at Maya Nursing Home and another 8 injured passengers are receiving treatments at Deuki Nursing Home.

The injured claimed that the driver’s assistant had been driving when the accident happened. Most of the passengers were from Kalikot and Bajura, on their way to India for work.