Bus accident in Nepal leaves at least 33 dead

At least 33 people were killed when a passenger bus skidded off the road and plunged nearly 300 metres down a hill in Nepal.

Thirty-eight passengers were also injured in the crash and were airlifted to hospital in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, authorities told CNN.

The passengers were reportedly headed to their home villages to receive the first government payout for victims of last year’s fatal earthquake when the bus veered off the road in a town about 80km from the capital.

"Bodies are scattered all over the sloppy hill, so security personnel are having difficulties collecting bodies and rescuing the victims," Deputy Chief District Officer Bhim Kanta Sharma told CNN.

Authorities are reportedly looking into the possibility of overcrowding on the bus as the cause of the accident.

There are reports about 85 people were riding inside the bus and on its roof when it went off the road.