Nepal bus accident kills 12, injures many

KATMANDU, Nepal – An official says a crowded bus skidded off a mountain road in central Nepal, killing at least 12 people and injuring many others.

Tuesday is Mother's Day in Nepal, and the bus was crowded with people visiting their mothers.

Sindhuli district chief administrator Jitendra Bhandari says the bus veered off the road and tumbled about 1,000 feet (300 meters) down a slope.

He says rescuers had difficulty reaching the bus because it was hanging on the slope supported only by a few trees. Details were sketchy, but at least two dozen people were taken to nearby hospitals.

The village is about 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Katmandu.

Accidents in Nepal are frequently blamed on poorly maintained roads and vehicles.