JHAPA: An 18-month-old minor died and 12 others were injured in a road accident that occurred this morning at Naya Basti of Kankai Municipality-3 along the East-West Highway.

The deceased has been identified as Aarut Rajbanshi. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Khagendra Bahadur Khadka of the District Police Office, the accident occurred when a container (Me 1 Cha 4515), heading towards Maidhar from Biratamode, collided with a bus (Na 5 Kha 2149) coming from the opposite direction.

The condition of some of the injured is reported to be serious. Police are searching for the bus driver, while the container driver, Jaqeer Hussain, 39, of Biratamode Municipality-6, has been taken into police custody for further investigation into the incident.