KATMANDU: A bus has veered off a mountain road and plunged into a river in western Nepal, killing at least 13 people and leaving 19 others critically injured.    

Police official Binod Ghimire said the bus veered off a road near Dhasrathpur village and rolled 50 metres before plunging into the Gam river Friday morning.

The area is about 400 kilometres northwest of the capital, Katmandu.

Police and army personnel were helping rescue efforts, but details were sketchy.

Traffic accidents are common in Nepal, and are generally blamed on poorly maintained roads and vehicles.