JHAPA: Nineteen passengers were injured in a road accident happened at Maidhar of Shivasatakshi Municipality-10 in Jhapa district this morning, according to the police.

The passenger-carrying public bus (Pra 1-01-001 Kha 4209) lost control and skidded off the road along the East-West Highway.

Spokesperson of District Police Office, Jhapa, and Deputy Superintendent of Police Khagendra Bahadur Khadka said the injured people were rushed to the Birta City Hospital based in Birtamod, Jhapa.

The bus heading to Jhapa from Manthali in Ramechhap district was carrying 25 passengers all together. The injured are Raju Bhujel, 39, Ichha Limbu, 17, Rabilal Ganesh, 20, Parina Ganesh, 21, Simitra Khadka Karki, 36, and her nine-year-old son Alon Karki of Jhapa district.

Likewise, Ambar Bahadur Budhathoki, 65, Bhim Prasad Puri, 35, Mithu Khatri, 65, and eight-year-old Anu Shrestha of Ramechhap were also injured in the mishap.

The other injured persons include Pradip Bahadur Basnet, 30, and Kumar Basyal, 28, of Dolakha district and Bhema Rajbansi, Ram Kumar Shrestha and his son Ritham Shrestha, Purna Bahadur Nepali, Shital Nepali, Avisekh Rajbansi and Shyamlal Kisku of Jhapa district.

According to police, the accident occurred as the speeding vehicle lost control and further investigations into the mishap have been initiated.