DOTI: As many as nine persons were killed and seven others were injured when an overcrowded jeep they were travelling on skidded of a slippery trail in Bogtan Rural Municipality-6 of Doti district on Friday night.

The deceased have been identified as Bishnu Bahadur Magar (35); Bhim Gharti Magar (55); Budho Gharti Magar (50); Gorakh Thapa Magar (45); Shashi Ram Pun Magar (48); Lalita Devi Pun (45); Tek Bahadur Pun Magar (40); Chandra Bahadur Gharti Magar (30), all the residents of Simchaur Chapartola area in Bogtan Rural Municipality-1 and driver Bishnu Negi (28) of Kappalle Doti area in Shikar Municipality-1 in the district.

All of the injured passengers including a woman are reported to be in critical condition, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Shiva Bahadur Singh.

The jeep (Se 1 Ja 491) en route from Dipayal to Chawara Chautara fell 400 metres below the muddy trail at Kataigaun Dhar area of Gaguda in Bogtan Rural Municipality-6, killing nine passengers on the spot and injuring seven others, at around 11 pm yesterday, according to the District Police Office, Doti.

They were rushed to the Soojung Hospital in Dipayal which is five hours drive away from the accident site.

There were a total of 16 people onboard the vehicle at the time of accident.

It has been learnt that the injured passengers had saved their lives by jumping off the falling vehicle.

Meanwhile, a team of security personnel under the command of Inspector Rajendra Bahadur Singh are pulling the wreckage of the ill-fated four-wheeler, the DPO informed.

The preliminary investigation points to overload of passengers on a rural trail made slippery by the monsoon rain as the cause of the accident, said police.