Damak/ Tanahun, January 15:

Five persons were killed and 53 injured in three road mishaps in different places today.

Three persons were killed and 21 injured when a passenger bus carrying pilgrims met with an accident at Tea Estate Chowk of Damak in Jhapa today.

Those killed have been identified as Laxmi Chaudhari (11) and Rabi Rishidev (35) of Indrapur and Dhyan Bahadur Rai (44) of Amardaha in Morang, said the Damak Area Police Office (APO). Chaudhari died on the spot while Rishidev and Rai died while undergoing treatment in local hospitals, police said.

Some injured passengers are undergoing treatment at Damak-based AMDA and Lifeline hospitals, said SI Yadav Gautam. The speeding bus turned turtle when one of the rear tyres went off suddenly. The passengers were on a pilgrimage to Kankai Mai river to mark Makar Sankranti.

A report from Tanahun said two persons were killed and 12 injured when a microbus bound for Devghat from Pokhara skidded off the road and fell 50 feet down on the Damauli-Dumre road section of the Prithvi highway at Ghansikuwa VDC in Tanahun district this morning. The microbus was carrying pilgrims to Devghat.

Chandra Kumari Gurung (60) of Pokhara-9 died on the spot while Min Bahadur Gurung (55) of Pokhara-10 died en route to hospital, said the Tanahun district traffic police. The microbus driver has been taken into custody, he said.

In Makawanpur, 20 persons were hurt in two road mishaps. Eleven people were hurt when a truck bound for Devghat from Hetaunda met with an accident at Kharanga of the Hetaunda-Narayangarh road section of the Mahendra highway, police said. The condition of the two is reported to be critical.

Nine passengers were hurt when a bus bound for Kathmandu from Kakarvitta hit a bus at Churiyamai VDC on the Hetaunda-Pathlaiya road section today, police said.