At least nine persons died and 26 others were injured when a commuter bus met with an accident in Rupandehi on Sunday.

The identities of the deceased are yet to be ascertained.

Among the injured, 16 are said to be in critical condition.

DSP Nawaratna Paudel, spokesperson at the District Police Office, Rupandehi, the incident occurred when the bus (Lu 2 Kha 3841) heading towards Bhairahawa from Janakpur plunged off a bridge into the Rohini River at the border of Rohini Rural Municipality-3 and Omsatiya Rural Municipality-4 along the Bhairahawa-Parasi road section at around 4 am today.

Police said that the injured have been taken to the Bhairahawa-based Bhim Hospital and Universal Medical College for treatment.