Two persons died and at least fifteen passengers were injured when a passenger bus heading towards Kathmandu from Bhairahawa veered off at Arunkhola bazaar of Nawalparasi Wednesday morning.

The passenger bus belonging to Himchuli travels with registration number Na 2 Kha 8673 veered off the road and fell into the Arun River in Nawalparasi section of the Mahendra Highway.

The deceased have been identified as the 36-year-old bus owner, Baburam Basyal and 60-year-old Wache Budha.

Reports quoted police as saying that Basyal died on the spot while Budha died en route to hospital.

Of the injured, nine are undergoing treatment in Kawasoti-based Kali Gandaki Hospital, while others returned home after general treatment.