HETAUDA: Nine passengers were seriously injured after a Pokhara-bound bus (Na 6 Kha 7457) from Janakpur crashed near the Ratomate checkpoint in Hetauda-15 along the Hetauda–Birgunj highway.

Local residents and security personnel quickly mobilized to rescue the 30 to 35 passengers on board, transferring the severely injured individuals to Hetauda Hospital for emergency treatment.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Madhav Prasad Kafle, the remaining passengers escaped with minor injuries.

Police have detained the 50-year-old bus driver, Dhaniram Bishwakarma of Janakpur, for investigation into the cause of the accident.