According to Gambir Bahadur Thapa, a local, Bhakta Bahadur Tamang of Laxmipur-5, Ghanashyam Acharya of Laxmipur-2 and driver Uttam Tamang died in the accident while the identity of a deceased woman is yet to be ascertained.
The van was heading for Laxmipur of Ilam from Khudnabari, Jhapa.
Locals said three people critically injured in the accident and were rushed to Jhapa and Dharan for treatment. Police, however, said that they were yet to get the details of the incident.
Likewise, 18 people were injured when a micro bus (Me 1 Ja 492) met an accident at Godak along the Mechi highway at 1 pm. The bus was heading for Ilam from Birtamod, Jhapa.
Meanwhile, two persons died on the spot when a Hetauda-bound jeep (Ba 2 Kha 8335) carrying vegetables from Palung of Makawanpur met with accident at Lamidanda of Tribhuvan Rajpath Saturday night, informed District Police Makawanpur.
The deceased have been identified as jeep driver Hirakaji Singh (30) of Agra VDC of Makawanpur and an unidentified person. [break]
A passenger injured in the incident returned home after receiving minor treatment at Hetauda hospital, police added.
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