Two people were killed when a jeep belonging to the under-construction 6.82-megawatt Hidi Khola Hydropower Project met with an accident at Chyamche Khet along the Naiche–Dahare road section in Marsyangdi Rural Municipality-6, Lamjung, on Friday night.

Inspector Gynendra Bahadur Chhetri, information officer at the District Police Office, Lamjung said that the accident occurred at around 11:30 pm when the jeep, carrying cement from Khudi, skidded off the road and plunged about 800 metres down the cliff.

Police identified the deceased as driver Binod Khadka, 30, of Melung Rural Municipality-4 in Dolakha, and passenger Paras Khadka, 25, of the same locality. Both sustained critical injuries and were pronounced dead by doctors at Lamjung Provincial Hospital in Besisahar around 4:30 am on Saturday.

A third passenger, Umesh Limbu, 20, of Sidingwa Rural Municipality-4 in Taplejung, survived the accident as he had stepped out of the vehicle moments earlier to place a wedge under the tyres, police said.

Teams from the Khudi and Bahundanda police posts were deployed for rescue operations following the incident.

Preliminary investigations suggest the jeep went out of control while ascending a steep uphill section.

Police said further investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident.