IN BRIEF (Page 8)

Nepal

21 dead as bus plunges into river

A packed passenger bus plunged into a river early on Friday, killing 21 people, a senior local official said. Rescuers struggled to recover bodies and help the injured to safety after the bus plunged into the swelling Trishuli River, off the highway at Chandi Bhanjyang village in Chitwan district. The bus was heading to the tourist town of Pokhara from the southern district of Rautahat. Accidents are relatively common on Nepal's highways because of poor roads, badly maintained vehicles and reckless driving.