Three killed as jeep plunges into river in Kalikot

KALIKOT: Three people were killed when a jeep fell into a river in Salleri of Shubhakalika Rural Municipality–4, Kalikot, last evening.

The accident occurred last night when a jeep (Ba 1 Ja 2898) overturned while climbing uphill on the Seri–Pantadi road and plunged about 500 meters down to the banks of the Tila River, according to Kalikot Police Chief Him Bahadur Khatri.

The deceased have been identified as 28-year-old Shankar Kathayat of Aathbis Municipality in Dailekh, Tekendra Shahi of Achham, and co-driver Nawaraj Shahi of Shubhakalika–2, Kalikot. All of them were engaged in excavation work on the Seri–Pantadi road, police said.

Police have recovered all three bodies from the cliff and brought them to the road. Preparations are underway to inform family members, conduct post-mortem examinations, and transport the bodies to the district headquarters, Manma.

The jeep involved in the accident remains badly damaged on the riverbank. Police said the driver has been contacted but has not yet been questioned.

Following the incident, a team including Chief District Officer Gorkan Raj Suyal, Police Chief Khatri, and personnel from the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force reached the accident site.