KATHMANDU, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Twelve people died and 15 others were injured when a passenger bus met an accident at Rambha area of Palpa district in western Nepal, some 350 km east of the capital, a senior police official said here.

District Police Chief Dilliraj Pant told the media that the passenger bus carrying 27 people veered off at Rambha area in the district, and fell some 200 meters down the road when it was en route to Rampur area from Tansen.

Of the deceased, nine are male and three are female, according to the police officer.

The injured have been undergoing treatment in local hospitals. The local authorities have yet to ascertain the reason behind the incident.

Poor condition of hilly roads and ill-maintained vehicles are often said to be behind frequent road mishaps in the Himalayan country.?