Oct. 28 (UPI) -- A bus careened off a highway and into a river Saturday in Nepal, killing at least 31 people and trapping another dozen underwater, local government officials said.
The bus fell into the Trishuli River in the Shading district, about 50 miles east of Nepal's capital, Kathmandu. In addition to the dead, the crash injured 16 people, some of whom were tossed from the bus.
Rescuers were attempting to pull people out of the bus, but after hours underwater, government official Ram Mani Mishra said he wasn't optimistic.
"It's highly unlike for anyone to survive for so long underwater," he told Sky News.
The bus was traveling to Kathmandu; many of the passengers were returning home after attending a Hindu festival.
Injured passengers on the bus told The Kathmandu Post the bus driver was speeding and driving recklessly.
"We were feeling insecure and scared when the vehicle crossed Chapu. Ultimately, the bus met with an accident," passenger Manoj Thakur said. "The bus was at high speed before the tragedy occurred."
The driver sustained a head injury and the Post reported he fled the crash scene.
