The death toll from a van accident in Baitadi rose to four on Monday after one of the injured succumbed during treatment, police said.

The accident occurred on Monday morning at Jhaulek near Vijaypur along the Jayaprithvi Highway in ward 8 of Patan Municipality, when a Mahindra Bolero van travelling from Motinagar of Surnaya Rural Municipality–6 towards Dadeldhura veered off the road and plunged around 300 metres down a slope.

Police Inspector Suraj Singh, spokesperson for the District Police Office, Baitadi, said that three people died on the spot while one woman died during treatment at Dadeldhura District Hospital.

Those who died at the scene have been identified as 24-year-old Nishant Bohara and 29-year-old Bhandev Bhatta of Sigas Rural Municipality–1, and 13-year-old Rakesh Rawal of Alital Rural Municipality–3 in Dadeldhura. The fourth victim, 27-year-old Basanti Airee of Sigas Rural Municipality–1, died while undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Six others were injured in the accident. Two of them are reported to be in critical condition, while the remaining four have sustained minor injuries.

All the injured are receiving treatment at Dadeldhura District Hospital.

Police said further investigation into the cause of the accident is under way.