PHIDIM: Three members of a family lost their lives on the spot in an ambulance accident at Godak of Ilam in the wee hours of Monday.

The deceased have been identified as Ananda Adhikari, Renuka Adhikari and Narimaya Chauhan of Phidim, Phanchthar, informed Uttam Bhandari Chief of the District Traffic Police Office, Panchthar.

Police said they were returning home after the treatment of Renuka Adhikari. She got injured when her clothes caught fire while trying to hide the cigarette butt she was smoking in the bathroom.

Two others, Tikaram Adhikari and Gehanath Prasain, were critically injured in the incident and have been rushed to B&C Hospital in Birtamod for treatment, police added.

The accident took place when the ambulance (Me 1 Cha 1747) of Janamaitri Sewa Organisation, en route to Panchthar from Dharan, fell some 350 metres off the road at Godak along the Mechi Highway.

Police stated the vehicle was travelling on a high speed.

(With inputs from Rastriya Samachar Samiti)