Eighteen people, 14 Armed Police Force (APF) officials and four civilians, were killed in a Maoist attack on a security patrol at Gobadia VDC-1, Dhankhola in Dang district Saturday.

Twenty-seven others have been injured, reports said. Hundreds of Maoists opened fire and lobbed bombs at a security patrol of APF forces at around 8.30 am on the Mahendra Highway seven kilometers from Bhalubang, reports said. 14 APF personnel and four civilians on a passenger bus were killed.

15 seriously injured people have been taken to Nepalgunj for treatment, reports said. Others have been undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

Sporadic shootouts still continue in the area while backup security forces have been deployed.  Casualties on the Maoist side are yet to be confirmed.