Four persons died while 70 others were injured in two separate road accidents in Makwanpur district on Sunday. Six injured were said to be in critical condition.

A crowded bus overturned at Hadikhola-2, killing three persons and injuring 68 others. The bus (Na 4 Kha 4307) was heading to Hetauda, the district headquarters of Makwanpur, from Makari in Hadikhola.

Police identified the deceased as Pranish Lamichhane (4), Surya Bahadur Lama (30) and Laxmi Dahal Mainali (30). Thirty-nine injured were taken to Chure Hill Hospital while the others were admitted to Hetauda Hospital.

The 35-seater bus was carrying around 100 passengers, most of them were on their way to Hetauda for festival shopping.

“The bus was crowded with passengers. A number of people were sitting on the roof as there was no space inside,” said Kaji Babu Uprety, who was on the roof.

The bus had hit a wall before overturning.

 “More people would have died if the bus had fallen off the road,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Bamdev Gautam.

Bus driver Shyam Bahadur Moktan said the accident was caused because of brake failure.

“I had to divert the vehicle towards the wall to prevent it from falling off the road,” he said. The local administration has formed a three-member committee to probe the accident. In another incident, Ramsharan BK (33) of Chitlang-6 died in a bus accident at Jurikhet along the Chitlang-Kulekhani road section. BK succumbed to injuries in Chure Hill Hospital. Two others were also injured in the incident.

There were 30 people on board the bus, police said.

Couple dead as van hits motorcycle

ITAHARI: A couple died when their motorcycle was hit by a van at Madhesha-4 in Sunsari district on Sunday. Police identified the deceased as Mohammad Ali Hussain of Lohajara-8 in Saptari district and his wife Nurjaha Khatun. The van driver has been taken into custody, said police.