At least 18 people were killed Monday when a bus slipped off a rain-drenched mountain road in northwestern Nepal, police said. The bus skidded off the road and rolled a few meters near Rararihi village, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) northwest of the capital, Kathmandu, said police official Indra Bahadur Saud. The mostly gravel road was slippery from overnight rainfall, and visibility was poor because of fog, he said. Among those killed, 13 died on the spot, while four succumbed to injuries at the hospital. Twelve other people were injured in the accident and taken to nearby hospitals, including five who were in critical condition, Saud said. Bus accidents are generally blamed on poorly maintained roads and vehicles in Nepal, which is covered by mostly mountainous terrain.
