Five persons were killed and 17 others were injured when Maoists ambushed a bus at Karare in Sindhuli at 7.45 AM Sunday morning, official sources said.

Among the killed were two soldiers and three civilians. A soldier and three civilians died on the spot and one soldier died while undergoing treatment at a nearby camp.

The bus driver, one teacher and a trader were killed in the ambush. Five soldiers, seven policemen and five civilians were injured. Fourteen injured were evacuated by helicopter to the capital for treatment Sunday.