TAPLEJUNG: Four people were killed early Monday morning when a Bolero jeep en route to the Pathibhara Temple caught fire after reportedly coming into contact with a fallen electric wire.
The incident took place around 4:50 a.m. on the Kaflepati road section of Phungling Municipality-10, near the areas of Gundre and Tersai, according to police.
The jeep, which had departed from Phungling Bazaar, was carrying pilgrims from Lalitpur to the famous pilgrimage site.
Journalist Basanta Limbu reported that the vehicle caught fire after a live electric wire, believed to have fallen from a nearby pole, made contact with it.
He stated that four people died on the spot, while two others sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Among those who lost their lives were 45-year-old driver Durga Bhattarai, a resident of Furumbu in Phungling Municipality, 16-year-old Adhya Acharya, her 70-year-old maternal grandfather Binod Poudel from Bhadrapur-15 in Jhapa, and 69-year-old maternal grandmother Sarita Poudel.
All were reported to be family members traveling together.
Sabina Acharya, also known as Sandhya, aged 45, was seriously injured in the fire and has sustained extensive burns.
According to Inspector Bibek Basnet of the District Police Office in Taplejung, she is in critical condition and arrangements are being made to airlift her for advanced treatment.
Her nine-year-old son, Abhiyab Acharya, sustained minor injuries in the incident.
Police officials have stated that further details regarding the incident are still being gathered as investigations continue.
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