Six inmates escaped from Dolpa district prison after digging a tunnel, police said.

The escape is believed to have taken place on Friday night. The incident came to light at around 6am on Saturday when prison officials counted inmates and found six missing, said Chief District Officer Junu Hamal Dhakal.

Four of those who escaped were serving sentences in theft and rape cases, while the other two were detainees awaiting trial.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Anil Raj Giri of the District Police Office, Dolpa, said the exact time of the escape had not been established. Officials found a tunnel about four metres long, dug from inside the room where the inmates were held to the outside of the prison.

Hamal told Kantipur that the inmates appeared to have dug their way out of the prison. Further details of the incident are awaited.