MAHOTTARI: As many as three persons died and eight others sustained injuries after the tractor they were travelling on met with an accident in Ramgopalpur Municipality-8 of  Mahottari district on Monday night, police said. The deceased have been identified as Satya Chandra Shah (40), Ram Babu Mandal (18) and Sabiri Devi Mandal (45), all residents of Ramgopalpur Municipality-7 in the district. According to police, the incident occurred when the tractor (Ja 1 Ta 3516) ferrying people back from a picnic on the occasion of Saraswati Puja, met with with an accident in Thalahi at 9:30 pm yesterday. The injured were rushed to the Janakpur Zonal Hospital where they are undergoing treatment, informed police. Meanwhile, further investigation into the case is under way and search is on for the absconding tractor driver, said the Ramgopalpur-based Area Police Office.