Injured passengers from the bus accident at Charaundi in Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality, Dhading have been sent to Kathmandu for further treatment.

The bus was heading to Kathmandu from Pokhara when it plunged into the Trishuli river at around 1:15am on Monday.

Police said the death toll has reached 18. A total of 25 people were injured. Of them, 24 were referred to Kathmandu for further treatment.

One injured passenger, a New Zealand national, is undergoing treatment at Malekhu Teaching Hospital. He has sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and she chose to continue treatment there instead of travelling to Kathmandu.

The bodies have been sent to Gajuri Community Hospital for post-mortem.

The bus had left the Tourist Bus Park in Pokhara at 7pm on Sunday. Operated by Prithvi Rajmarg Bus Sanchalak Company Pvt Ltd, the bus was carrying some foreign nationals.

According to committee chair Ain Kumar Shahi, the bus owner Om Kumar Shrestha was also on board and died at the scene. The driver remains missing.