At least five people died, including four students and a parent, after a school bus lost control and fell down a steep 650ft slope in Pokhara, Nepal, on Friday. The vehicle, belonging to Kalika Boarding School, was carrying students home from tuition classes when the crash occurred.
Nineteen others were injured in the incident, which happened near Majhathana in Pokhara Metropolitan City-28, just north of the Bijaypur Army barracks. Three girls and a boy were among those who died, along with a parent.
Rescue and hospital response
Emergency crews swarmed the scene and managed to rescue injured pupils from the wreck before taking them to hospital. Deputy Inspector General of Police Dipendra GC said the casualties were taken to Gandaki Medical College and Western Regional Hospital for treatment.
A police officer is said to have been injured after slipping during the rescue operation.
Series of bus incidents in Nepal
The tragedy is the latest of a series of bus incidents in Nepal this year. In March, seven people were killed after a bus carrying pilgrims plummeted down a mountain, with nine others injured. Another accident saw British tourist Dominic Stewart killed after a bus veered off the road and plunged 160ft onto the bank of a river in Nepal, injuring 25 other passengers.
