At least six persons have been confirmed dead when a passenger bus met with an accident at Krishnabhir of Dhusa VDC-1, Dhading district Monday morning.

The identities of the deceased passengers - one minor, one woman and four men - could not be ascertained immediately.

The accident occurred when the bus (Na 2 Kha 4951) heading to Kathmandu from Katari of Udaypur skidded off the road made slippery by heavy rain and plunged some 200 meters down into the swollen Trishuli river at around 4 am.

A rescue team comprising of Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and aided by the locals is currently conducting search and rescue operations at the site, police said.

Police Inspector Binod Ghimire of the Area Police Office, Gajuri informed that some passengers are still trapped in the bus and they could be rescued alive as the bus has not been swept away by the river but remains close to the River bank where the water level is not high.

He also said that some 22 passengers have already been rescued alive and have been sent to hospitals in Gajuri and Malekhu. Those in critical condition are being rushed to Kathmandu, it is learnt.

However, members of the rescue team said they are facing difficulty in rescuing the passengers trapped inside due to the fast flowing river.

The accident has occurred within 24 hours after 39 people were killed when a bus carrying pilgrims, mostly Indian, plunged into the Gandak canal at Riveni Susta VDC-7 on Sunday. nepalnews.com