Bus accident

At least 17 people have been killed in a bus accident in the district on Tuesday morning. Of the deceased, 10 are men and seven are women, traffic police Nawaraj Basnet told Republica Online. The accident took place when a passenger bus, Ba 2 Kha 6376, heading to Kathmandu from the district headquarters Diktel plunged some 200 meters down the road at Barkhetar of the district this morning. According to police, the ill-fated bus was carrying more than 18 passengers. A joint squad from the District Police Office, Area Police Office, Arkhaule and locals have reached the accident site for rescue. The reason behind the accident is yet to be ascertained. The bus had departed from Diktel at 5 am and the accident took place at 8 am."The bus has plunged some 200 meters down the road. "The dead bodies are scattering everywhere in a steep cliff. We are carrying out rescue work," said Guru Prasad Dhakal, a local. According to Assistant Chief District Officer Dinesh Kumal, the accident site lies in a far-flung area from Diktel. "We have requested the Home Ministry in writing to send a helicopter for rescue and treatment of the injured," Kumal told Republica Online. "The helicopter has flown from Kathmandu." On January 14, 2009, people had lost their lives when a jeep met with an accident at Barkhetar.