Nepal Bus Falls 700 Feet Off Mountain, 12 Killed

A bus veered off a remote mountain road and plummeted about 700 feet Sunday in western Nepal, killing at least 12 people and injuring several more, officials said.

The accident occured near Hungasapur village, about 200 miles west of Katmandu, and rescue teams were sent to the area, Argakhachi district administrator Balbadra Giri said.

Rescue efforts were complicated because the accident site is in a remote area with no telephones, a few hours drive from the main town in the district. The area has steep cliffs, unpaved roads and no guard rails, Giri said.

Police said the accident killed at least 12 people, and that rescuers would take the several injured people to hospitals in nearby towns and cities.

Traffic accidents are common in Nepal, where roads and vehicles are poorly maintained and morning fog makes visilibity low. Buses in rural areas are enerally overcrowded, often with people traveling on the roof.

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