Kaski, May 6

Eleven passengers died and four others were injured in a jeep accident at Bhedabari area of Dhital Village Development Committee in Kaski district on Sunday.

Seven of them died on the spot while four other breathed their last while undergoing treatment at the Manipal Teaching Hospital and Far-Western Regional Hospital.

The jeep with registration number Ga 1 Cha 3248 heading towards Hemja from Lalawanghale of Kaski met with an accident at around 9 am. Police have suspected that the brakes of the jeep may have failed while climbing up a steep and rough road.

The jeep fell some 200 metres down from the road, said the District Police Office.

The deceased have been identified as Bikash Chhetri, 34, Junu Gurung, 26, Junga Bahadur BK, 60, Asarfi BK, 58, Balaram Gautam, 66, Bakhat Bahadur Gautam, 75, of Lawangghalel VDC-1, Min Bahadur BK, 48, Tek Bahadur BK, 50, of Lawangghalel VDC-2 and Mithu Adhikari of Pame, Pokhara.

Two women passengers killed in the accident are yet to be identified. Bikash Chhetri was the jeep driver.

Four injured passengers are being treated at the Western Regional Hospital, Pokhara. The victims were rescued by the local people. Injured Ichha Gurung, 21, Saraswoti Adhikari, 29, of Dhital-4 and an unidentified man woman are being treated at the regional hospital.   (See P. 3)