Three Killed, Three Missing in Sunkoshi River Accident

Three women have died and three people remain missing after a Tata Sumo plunged into the Sunkoshi River from the Mid-Hill Highway in Fikkal Rural Municipality-6, Nagthan, Sindhuli district, early Sunday morning.

Four people, including the driver, were injured in the accident, according to police.

The vehicle, bearing registration number Ko 1 Ja 2976, was travelling from Kathmandu to Khotang when it veered off the road and fell approximately 200 metres into the river at around 2:30 a.m.

Police teams deployed from Ratnawati and Khangsang police posts recovered the bodies of three women from the accident site, Deputy Superintendent of Police Bijaya Shrestha of the District Police Office, Sindhuli, said.

The injured, two men, one woman and a girl were rescued and taken to Janasewa Health Centre in Ghurmi, Udayapur, for treatment.

The driver, Ashish Bista, was unconscious when rescued. Thirty-eight-year-old Samjhana Rai of Diktel Municipality-3, Khotang, is in critical condition. Her 12-year-old daughter, Siwani Rai, and 13-year-old Ankit BK of Diktel Municipality-1 were reported to be conscious and able to speak.

Police said three people were still missing, based on the driver’s account. A search and rescue team led by a police inspector from the Area Police Office in Khurkot has been deployed to the site to continue the operation.

Police are investigating the cause of the accident.