Three people died on the spot and 16 others were injured in a passenger jeep accident in Bajura district on Thursday morning.
Police reported that the condition of 13 of the injured is serious.
Police Inspector Dev Bahadur Chaudhary, the police spokesperson in Bajura, told Setopati that 65-year-old Bijaura Rokaya, 70-year-old Bacha Rokaya, and 35-year-old Juneli Rokaya of Sunnebada village in Himali Rural Municipality-5, Bajura, died at the scene.
The jeep, with the registration number Ba Pra 03001 Ja 0338, was heading to Kuwadi from Kyudi in Himali Rural Municipality-5 when it veered off the road and fell nearly 250 meters below.
Although the accident occurred around 7:30 a.m., a local woman informed the police only at around 9 a.m. Following this, the temporary police post in Kuwadi and the District Police Office mobilized teams to the accident site.
According to Inspector Chaudhary, the police team from the police post reached the scene around 11:30 a.m., while the district police team arrived around 12:45 p.m.
The condition of the jeep driver, 23-year-old Gauri Budha of Kot, Himali-2; 35-year-old Bachalal Rokaya, 36-year-old Dhan Singh Rokaya, 70-year-old Bhadairi Rokaya; 22-year-old Banchdhan Rokaya, 45-year-old Bir Bahadur Budha, 70-year-old Amma Rokaya, 45-year-old Bhaijit Budha, 14-year-old Dasharath Budha, 12-year-old Apkali Budha, 50-year-old Ranasur Sunar, 50-year-old Raj Bahadur Budha Thapa of Kyudi, Himali-5; and 36-year-old Surendra Shahi of Tajakot Rural Municipality-3, Humla remains critical, said Inspector Chaudhary.
Among the injured, 50-year-old Chhate Rokaya and 8-year-old Sajan Rokaya of Kyudi, Himali-5, and 35-year-old Dal Bahadur Chadara from Bachchhiya, Himali-5, are in moderate condition, he added.
According to police, there were 19 passengers in the jeep. The vehicle reportedly lost control on a narrow road and plunged around 250 meters.
Inspector Chaudhary said that six injured were transported in a rural municipality jeep, two in an ambulance, six in a private vehicle from Humla, adding that efforts were underway to rescue two others.
He added that correspondence has already been sent to the chief district officer regarding the rescue of the injured.
Police said that discussions were ongoing to send the injured to the district hospital if a helicopter does not arrive.
