At least 32 persons, including Maoists and security personnel, were killed in fierce firing in western Nepal, a Defence Ministry statement said.
Eighteen bodies of rebels were recovered during a search operation carried out by security forces after Tuesday's clash between Maoists and security forces which took place in Panena village in Palpa, about 250 kilometres west of Kathmandu, the statement said.
Ten soldiers and a policeman were also killed, it added.
The firing began after five suspected rebels were killed on Tuesday night when they accidentally exploded a homemade bomb in Mangalsen in western Nepal.
Meanwhile, two rebels were killed in a separate operation launched by the security forces in Galfai area of Darchua district, the Defence Ministry said.
Those killed in the incident included a platoon commander and a section commander of the Maoist outfit.