Two persons died and 17 others injured when a picnic jeep met with an accident at Thagli in Kupende Municipality-8 of Salyan district on Wednesday.

Police identified the deceased as jeep driver Dev Raj Kami of Bheriganga-8 and Dhan Maya Nepali, 35, of Birendranagar-8, according to DSP Mohan Kumar Acharya of the District Police Office, Surkhet.

The incident occurred when the ill-fated jeep (Bhe 1 Ja 927) which had gone for picnic at Kupende Daha from Surkhet skidded off the road and fell some 120 metres down at 4pm today, police said.

The injured are receiving treatment at the Mehalkuna Hospital.

Of the injured, five are said to be in critical condition.