KATHMANDU, June 6 (Xinhuanet) -- The death toll in central Nepal's landmine explosion has reached 53, while over 40 other passengers were injured, an army official said here Monday.

    "At least 36 passengers died on the spot while others succumbed to injuries on the way to hospital when a passenger bus hit landmine in Chitwan district, some 150 km southwest of Kathmandu,"the army official said on condition of anonymity.

    The incident took place at around 8:00 a.m. local time (0215 GMT) at a bridge over the Mudhekhola river in Kalyanpur village of the district.

    The bus was heading towards Bharatpur, the headquarters of the district, from Bagai carrying more than one hundred passengers, including a dozen of security personnel.

    Security forces have launched search operation against the insurgents, he noted, adding, "However, more details of the incident are awaited." Enditem