KATHMANDU: At least nine passengers have been killed and 39 others injured when a bus veered off the road and plunged into Sunkoshi River at Sukute of Sindhupalchowk district on Sunday afternoon.

The bus, Ba 2 Kha 7245, heading to Kathmandu from Dolakha plunged into the river causing the fatalities, said DSP Madhav Kafle, Sindhupalchowk district police office.

Police along with locals are carrying out rescue operations. The injured are being rushed to hospitals.

The death toll is expected to rise.