KATHMANDU, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Seventeen people were killed in an accident involving a passenger vehicle in Nepal's western Rolpa district on Thursday, said a police officer.

The vehicle, which was heading to attend a religious function, fell 800 meters off the highway.

Sunil Thapa Nepali, a spokesperson for the district police, told Xinhua that as the rescue operation was still going on, the police have yet to ascertain the number of passengers in the vehicle.

The police suspect overload could have led to the accident. ■