At least eight people were killed and 17 injured when a passenger bus plunged into the Trishuli River in Chalisechahara of Gajuri Rural Municipality in Dhading district on Wednesday morning. Search for one missing person is ongoing, said police.

According to Superintendent of Police Gautam Mishra of the District Police Office, Dhading, the bus, operated by Dhaulagiri Yatayat and heading for Beni in Myagdi district from Kathmandu, veered off the road and plunged into the river along the Prithvi Highway.

There were 26 passengers on the bus, according to the statement given to police by the driver’s assistant, Roshan Tamang, who suffered injuries in the accident.

“So far, the bodies of eight passengers have been recovered from the incident site, and among them, two were female and six were male. The identities of four out of the eight deceased have been revealed,” said Mishra. “A 30-year-old woman from Myagdi, a 15-year-old woman from Parbat, 20-year-old man from Dhading, and a 24-year-old man from Kaski were among the deceased.”

According to Mishra, 14 people have been sent to Kathmandu for treatment. Most of the survivors of the accident have suffered major injuries. Those with minor injuries are receiving treatment in local hospitals.

65-year-old Gyanu Budhamagar, who survived the accident with minor injuries on her legs and forehead, said the vehicle that started the journey from Kathmandu smoothly fell off the road with a loud bang. “I heard a loud bang and the next thing I remember is the police personnel pulling me out from the vehicle,” said Budhamagar, who was on her way home to Baglung after a month-long treatment in Kathmandu.

The accident happened at around 11 am, and a joint team of security personnel conducted the search and rescue operation with the help of locals.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that the cause of the accident was overspeeding, said police.

“The driver must have lost control of the speeding vehicle when he tried to either overtake a vehicle ahead or avoid potholes,” said Mishra. “This road is in poor condition.”

In his statement to the police, Tamang, the driver’s assistant, informed that there were 26 people aboard the bus at the time of the accident but so far only 25 people have been accounted for. “We are still looking for one missing person,” said Mishra.