PANCHTHAR: Five persons were injured in an accident involving ambulance which was carrying a patient from Birtamod in Jhapa to Phidim, district headquarters of Panchthar.

One of the injured has been identified as the patient Dhana Kumari Lawati of Phidim Municipality-4. Four others travelling in the ambulance were injured.

The incident occurred around 4:00 am today when the ambulance (Me 1 Cha 992) -- carrying the patient and her relatives -- lost control due to fog and slippery road at Kanchhi Dokan area along the Phidim-Ilam road section of Mechi Highway, according to District Police Office, Panchthar.

Dhana Kumari was returning to Phidim from Dharan based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences where she had earlier been referred. She had been transferred to another ambulance in Birtamod.

The patient's condition has further become complicated due to the accident; however, others have sustained minor injuries, informed Police Inspector Anil Poudel.

The ambulance driver has been taken into custody for further investigation into the incident, said police.