At least seven people died and 30 others were injured when a passenger bus plunged into the Trishuli River on Wednesday morning.

According to police, the bus en route to Kathmandu from Kapilvastu skidded off the road along the Prithivi Highway and fell into the river at Ghatbesi of Gajuri Rural Municipality in Dhading.

National News Agency quoted Superintendent of Police Gautam KC of the District Police Office, Dhading, as saying that so far, the bodies of seven passengers have been recovered from the crash site.

Most of the injured have been sent to Kathmandu for further treatment after receiving initial care at a nearby institution, said KC.

Personnel from Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Nepali Army, and the Disaster Management Training School Kurintar Chitwan have been mobilised for rescue.

Bus driver Hariram Harijan, 38, from Lumbini Sanskritik Municipality-9 in Rupandehi, has been taken into police custody for investigation.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expressed sorrow over the deaths of people in the accident.

“He has directed the authorities concerned to ensure effective rescue operations and health treatment for the injured,” the prime minister’s secretariat said.