Panchthar, Oct 25: Two among the 62 people who were injured in the bus accident that occurred today at Sarkhande of Phidim municipality-4 in Panchthar have died.    

The dead include a child and a woman and their identities are yet to be ascertained. They were taken to the Samarpit Hospital and doctors involved in their treatment pronounced them dead a while ago, said hospital public relations officer Ganesh Rijal.     

62 people were injured in the accident and of them, 15 are children. Among the injured, four have been sent to Jhapa and the remaining are being treated at the Samarpit and the Pathibhara Hospitals. Until the filing of this report, preparations were underway to refer 10 to other health facilities. Three have already returned home from general treatment at the Samarpit Hospital.

The bus (Ko 1 Kha 3865) en route to Jhapa from Shivadobhan of Phidim-4 fell some 20 metres down from the road at around 11:30 am today. It is said the accident happened as the bus was trying to overtake another vehicle.  

Police said all the passengers injured in the mishap were rescued and were sent to the Panchthar District Hospital and Pathibhara Hospital for primary treatment. Preparation is being made for sending the critically injured passengers to Jhapa for further treatment. 

It is said most of the passengers are from Kummayak, Tumbewa and Phalgunanda rural municipalities in the district who were returning after visiting their families and relatives during the Dashain festival.