KATMANDU: Authorities say 15 people were killed when a passenger van drove off a remote road in western Nepal, in at least the third road disaster in the country in a week.

Police say the driver of the van lost control of the vehicle during heavy monsoon rainfall Sunday night.

The van rolled 200 meters (650 feet) and plunged into the Dhadha River near Narpani village.    Police say 15 bodies were found and that they're investigating the accident.

At least 55 people were killed in two accidents last week in Nepal, a mountainous nation where roads and vehicles are often poorly maintained. Monsoon season is a particularly dangerous time for road travel in the country.