Two persons died and two others were swept away when a passenger bus fell into Rudi River after the bridge above it collapsed here in the district on Thursday. Around two dozen passengers have been injured in the accident.

The ill fated bus (Na 5 Kha 6395) en route to Ram Bazar, Lamjung, from Pokhara fell into the confluence of Rudi and Madi Rivers at around 1 pm this afternoon after the bridge that connects Lamjung and Kaski districts gave way.

According to the passengers and people involved in rescue, the bridge gave way as the flooded river had weakened its foundation. It is learnt that the dead bodies have not been retrieved yet as they are still under water.

One local Pravesh Ghimire said preparations are being made to bring a crane from Bhorletar in order to rescue the bus and dead passengers.

Seriously injured 14 passengers have been sent to Pokhara and Lamjung for treatment, police said.

Bhorletar Area Police Office Inspector Radheshyam Singh Saithwar informed that a police team and an ambulance have been deployed to the incident site.

The police are yet to ascertain the full extent of the accident.