At least six persons died on the spot when a jeep they were traveling in met with an accident at Jholekmod in Patan Municipality-8 of Baitadi section along the Jayaprithvi Highway on Tuesday. The deceased have been identified as Mane Bohora (60), Nare Bohora (42), Gorakh Bohora (35), Man Bahadur Dhami (45), Birkha Dhami (45) and Bire Dhami, 40, of Kedarsyun Rural Municipality-5. The jeep (Se 1 Ja 764) was heading towards Bagthala of Bajhang from Jhulaghat when the tragedy occurred at around 11.00 pm yesterday, Inspector Yogesh Khatry, spokesperson at the District Police Office, Baitadi said.

Five other passengers of the jeep narrowly escaped the fatality as they managed to jump before the accident.

The jeep carrying 12 passengers had fallen 500 meters down the road. The jeep driver fled the scene after the incident. Reason behind the accident is yet to be established. Police said that they are looking into the case.