At least 25 students and teachers were killed and more than 60 injured in a road accident in South Western Nepal last night.

According to reports, the bus, carrying students and teachers of a school of Chitwan district, was returning from a picnic and skidded off the East-West highway at Gaidakot of Nawalparasi District in South Western Nepal.

''The bus left for the picnic spot early last morning. Most of the students were in their mid-teens. Bodies of 20 students were recovered from the spot. Some others are believed to be still trapped inside. Locals and police reached the accident site soon after the mishap occurred at around 2100 hrs (local time). The rescued were rushed to hospital,'' a local newspaper said, quoting a local police officer, adding that five people died while undergoing treatment.

Around five dozen students have been injured in the accident.

The students belonged to Hill Bird secondary school of Bharatpur, Chitwan.