Two inmates died under mysterious circumstances in the Sankhuwasabha District Prison on Wednesday.

The deceased have been identified as Binod Tolangi (19) of Modi Municipality and Akash Balami (28) of Kakani Rural Municipality-7, Nuwakot.

DSP Birendra Godar said that the duo were arrested and handed over to the prison administration after they tried to flee from the toilet at around 1 am today.

“Both of them were taken to the hospital after they were found in an unconscious state inside the prison this morning. They breathed their last during the course of treatment at 6 am,” he said.

The bodies have been kept at the morgue of the hospital.

Tolangi and Balami, who were serving the jail sentence in a rape and theft cases, had tried to escape from the prison.

Following the incident, a large number of security personnel were deployed in the premises of the district prison.

A meeting of the District Security Committee is being held at the District Administration Office to discuss the issue.

Chief District Officer Shiva Kumar Karki said that a committee will be formed to investigate the incident.