Four South Korean tourists killed in Nepal bus crash: Police

Kathmandu: Four South Korean tourists along with their driver were killed in a bus crash in central Nepal on Monday, police said.

Another South Korean and 15 others were injured in the crash, which happened as the tourists were returning to the capital Kathmandu from the popular tourist town of Pokhara, said police officer Prakash Malla.

Their minibus was overtaking and appeared to have hit a larger vehicle coming from the opposite direction at Dhadhing, about 70 kilometres (43 miles) from Kathmandu, the officer said.

"Three South Korean tourists and the microbus bus driver died on the spot. Two other South Koreans were injured and taken to Kathmandu, but one died while in treatment," Malla told AFP.

"We are in contact with the South Korean embassy officials, they are heading here to receive the bodies."

The injured South Korean is receiving medical treatment in Kathmandu along with five other other injured. The other 10 who were hurt were taken to a hospital near the scene of the accident.

Deadly crashes are relatively common in the impoverished Himalayan nation because of poor roads, badly maintained vehicles and reckless driving.

Last November 47 people died when an overcrowded bus plunged into a river in the country's west.