Mahendranagar, July 16:

Body of one of the five persons who went missing after a jeep accident at Masinbaluwa of Khalanga VDC-1 of Darchula last evening, was found today in India, five kilometres away from the mishap site.

The accident occurred when the jeep heading towards Dhap from Khalanga skidded off the road and plunged into Mahakali River.

The body of Manwati Dhami was found on the banks of Mahakali River near Baluwakot of India, Darchula CDO Yagyaraj Bohara said, adding that five persons were killed and four were still missing.

There were 17 persons travelling in the jeep. Three persons managed to escape to safety by jumping from the jeep just before it plunged into the river.

Prakash Bist, 5, Roshan Singh Airi, 8, Janaki Bist, 30, and Gaji Khatri were killed in the accident.

Keshav Singh Thapa, 30, Rajuram Lohar, 35, Nandadevi Badu and Dhaulidevi Raikhola are still missing. Locals reached the site 15 minutes after the incident, but could not rescue the victims. Chiefs of security wings and officials of the administration reached the site an hour later.

“People saw the jeep being swept away by the river,” CDO Bohara said. Except for Roshan Singh Airi, all the deceased were locals of Dhap VDC.