Nineteen people died when a passenger bus crashed in Narapani of Arghakhanchi district on Wednesday. Thirteen others were injured in the accident, said police.

According to the District Police Office, the bus (Lu 2 Kha 2148) was on its way to Butwal from Sandhikharka, the district headquarters of Arghakhanchi, when the incident occurred. The vehicle swerved off a narrow bend in Ratamata and plunged around 500 metres down the road.

Police said 17 people died on the spot while two succumbed to injuries in course of treatment. Of the deceased, 12 are male and seven are female. The deceased are yet to be identified.

The security personnel struggled for about four hours to rescue the injured and collect the bodies. “The rescue work was quite difficult as the incident site is in difficult terrain. The security personnel reached the site by using ropes,” said Chief District Officer Bijayaraj Paudel.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Prakash Bista said that 11 seriously injured were rushed to Butwal while two others are receiving treatment at the district hospital in Sandhikharka.