Dhangadi, April 14

Eighteen persons, including five children were injured in a jeep accident in Api Municipality, Darchula, today.

The condition of five of the injured is said to be critical.

According to police, the accident happened when the vehicle bound for Darchula district headquarters Khalanga from Dhap of Api skidded off the road and fell some 25 metres below the road at Galfai.

Police have identified the seriously injured as Pradipsingh Dhami, 45, Karansingh Pal, 33, Kammansingh Bhat, 45, Man Bahadur Bam, 70, and Ganesh Raikhal, 55, of Api.

Dhami is the chief of the district land revenue office of Darchula, while Bam is serving in the Nepali Army.

“Of the injured, Ganesh and Pradip Singh have been taken to Pithauragadh of India; Karan Singh and Kamman Singh have been taken to Padma Hospital in Attaria, Kailali and Man Bahadur to Chhauni Hospital in Kathmandu for treatment,” informed Darchula police chief DSP Shusil Singh Rathaur.

The other injured persons are being treated at the district hospital in Darchula. Police have arrested jeep driver Bhupal Dhami, 16, of Api-16 for investigation.

Last rites of Doti victims performed

DHANGADI: The final rites of all five members of a family who had died in Tuesday’s jeep accident in Doti were conducted jointly in Godawarighat, Kailali on Thursday.

Kathmandu-based Padmakanya Campus chief Prof Jayaraj Panta, his wife Guddi, brother Keshav, sister in-law Sabitra and uncle Ganeshraj Panta died in the accident.

Guddi and Pabitra were also lecturers at the college.

The kin of the deceased had brought the bodies to Kailali on Wednesday evening. Panta’s family had recently migrated to Kailali from Doti.

Three other persons, including the jeep driver also died in the tragic accident at Jijodamandau VDC on Tuesday.

Their final rites were conducted in their own respective villages.