At least eight persons were killed and 15 others were injured Tuesday morning when a passenger bus fell 150 feet down a highway into the turbulent Marshayangdhi river 200 kms west of the capital, police said quoting first reports.

The bus was going to Sunauli from Pokhara.  An estimated 60 persons were traveling in the bus. Locals and police have launched a search and rescue operation.

The cause of the accident was not known.