Three persons died when a tree fell on a commuter bus and a scooter at Sallaghari in Bhaktapur on Sunday.

Police said that the tree crushed the moving bus (Ba Kha 3584) heading towards Dudhpati from Thimi and the scooter (Ba 61 Pa 3978) en route to Sallaghari from Dudhpati.

Chief District Officer Rudra Devi Sharma said that 12 others were injured in the incident.

One of the deceased has been identified as Nitesh Kharbuja.

The identities of others are yet to be established.

The injured are receiving treatment at the Yuwamora Hospital, Bhaktapur International Hospital and Madhyapur Hospital, police said.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Balkrishna Khand has directed the chiefs of the security agencies  to rescue the injured.