Eight people were killed when a bus used by a wedding party met with an accident in Baitadi on Thursday.

The bus was returning to Bajhang after dropping off a wedding party from Bhawani in ward 7 of Purchaudi Municipality when it crashed at a bend in Badgaon of the same ward, police said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar Ray, chief of the district police office, Baitadi, confirmed that seven men and two women lost their lives in the accident.

The identities of only four victims have been confirmed so far. They include 40-year-old Keshav Joshi, 13-year-old Ashok Joshi, 35-year-old Basanta Joshi, all from Bitthadchir Rural Municipality–7 of Bajhang, and 60-year-old Mohandev Bhatt of Kedarsyun Rural Municipality.

Police said 45 injured passengers were rescued and taken to Kotila Health Post for treatment.

The bus reportedly fell around 200 metres down the road. Police and local residents are continuing rescue operations at the site, and further details are awaited.