NEPAL: A landmine exploded under a packed bus in southern Nepal yesterday, killing 38 passengers and wounding 72 in one of the worst attacks on civilians since a Maoist rebellion erupted in 1996.
The rebels, who are fighting to topple the monarchy and establish one-party communist rule in the Himalayan kingdom, are not known to target civilians, but army officers said they were to blame. "The place is littered with blood, limbs are scattered around the site," an army officer said by phone. "Many women and children have been killed."
The explosion took place about 150km south of Kathmandu. The commuter bus had been packed with villagers. There was no immediate claim of responsibility from the rebels.