Rajbiraj, September 15:

Three persons were killed and two seriously injured when a cargo truck hit a van bound for Udaypur from Biratnagar at Khojpur VDC, Saptari, on the Mahendra Highway today.

Police said the deceased have been identified as Sushma, wife of the Udaypur Assistant Chief District Officer, Baikuntha Adhikari, van driver Taslim Miyan and police constable Uddhav Khadka. Police inspector Bahadur Jung Malla at the Saptari District Police Office said the seriously injured Assistant CDO and his bodyguard were taken to Kathmandu for treatment.

The van was damaged in the accident. Truck driver Dev Raj Kaparaula has been arrested, police said. The Assistant CDO was going to Udaypur to take charge of his new office there after being transferred from Terhathum.