Kathmandu, Nov 24 (IANS): The toll in last week's bus accident in Nepal in which the vehicle plunged into a river has risen to 47, police said Monday.

The bodies of the victims were found after rescuers pulled the wreckage of the bus out of the river over the weekend, Xinhua reported.

On Nov 20, the overloaded bus, believed to be carrying some 60 passengers, plunged into the Bheri river, some 400 km from Kathmandu. Three bodies were found at the site, while scores were missing in the river.

Twelve passengers from a nearby village were still missing. Police said many of those killed were going to Kathmandu for jobs.

A search operation has been underway since the accident took place.

Police official Rajendra Shrestha told reporters that as the number of passengers in the bus was yet uncertain, the search operation continues.

"We believe there were around 60 passengers," he said.

In recent months, the number of bus accidents has increased significantly due to poor road condition and lack of a regulatory licensing system.

Last week, parliament's development committee asked the government to bring a new draft bill to control rising bus accidents in the Himalayan nation.