KATHMANDU - The death toll in Dhading bus accident in central Nepal jumped to 31, a local police officer told Xinhua on Saturday evening.

"The death toll may rise in the course of our rescue operation which is underway," police officer Dhrubaraj Raut said.

"Of the total 20 bodies recovered from the river we are able to identify only 12 so far," Raut added.

The incident occurred when the ill-fated bus en route to Kathmandu from Rajbiraj of eastern region of Nepal veered off the Prithvi Highway and plunged into the Trishuli River in Dhading District at 5:00 am local time on Saturday.

According to local media reports, the bus was carrying over 60 people when the accident occurred in Ghatebesi area, some 80 km east of the Capital.

The victims were mostly from Saptari District of eastern Nepal bordering India, who were returning to the capital after celebrating popular Chaath Festival in their homes.

The entire Saptari District is in deep sorrow following the incident, local media reports said.

Local authorities have not been able to pull out the ill-fated bus from the river yet. Nepal police, armed police force and Nepal army have mobilized their personnel to recover bodies still trapped in the wreckage.

The authorities are yet to ascertain the cause of the accident.