At least 12 people have gone missing as a passenger jeep skidded off the mountain road and plunged into a local river on Tuesday afternoon in Nepal's remote Humla district, some 400 km west of Kathmandu, officials said.

District chief Dholak Raj Dhakal told Xinhua over phone that at least 12 persons have gone missing during traveling as the jeep veered off the road and plunged into the river at Kharpunath rural municipality at around 1:00 p.m. local time.

We are yet to make sure whether the missing persons already breathed their last or (are) still alive, said the local administration, adding that it has intensified rescue operation in coordination with security agencies.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)