At least 38 people died and more than 72 others have been injured Monday when a passenger bus hit a landmine in central Nepal, an Army official said.

A total of 36 passengers died on the spot, while two others succumbed to injuries, one on the way to hospital and another while undergoing treatment, an army official said on condition of anonymity.

Among those killed are three security personnel, he said.

But state-owned Radio Nepal earlier reported that 53 people died in the incident.

The bus was ripped apart when it hit a landmine in Chitwan district, some 150 km southwest of Kathmandu. The incident took place at around 8:00 AM local time (02:15 GMT) at a bridge over the Mudhekhola River in Kalyanpur village of Chitwan district.

The bus carrying 110 passengers, including a dozen of security personnel was heading for Bharatpur, the district headquarters, from Bagai when the tragedy occurred.

At least 16 of those seriously injured have been airlifted to Kathmandu while the others are undergoing treatment at Bharatpur Hospital and a local health clinic.

(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2005)