KATHMANDU: Five people were killed when a truck carrying marble slabs overturned in Bhokraha Narsingh Rural Municipality of Sunsari district on Thursday morning.
The truck, bearing registration number 1 Kha 4541, was heading towards Rajbiraj from Biratnagar when it met with the accident along the Postal Highway, police said. Three others were injured in the crash.
According to the District Police Office, Sunsari, all five deceased were from the same locality in Barju Rural Municipality–1. They have been identified as 32-year-old Birendra Gurung, 55-year-old Brahmadev Gurung, 50-year-old Tek Bahadur Gurung, 28-year-old Nisu Gurung and 55-year-old Chandra Bahadur Gurung.
Police Superintendent Chandra Khadka said there were nine people on board the truck — four in the front cabin, including the driver, and five in the back. The five who were riding at the rear died after being crushed by the marble slabs when the truck overturned.
The three injured passengers who were in the cabin are undergoing treatment at Biratnagar Nursing Home. The driver is reported to have fled the scene, and police have launched a search to locate him.
An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.
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