Three people were killed and 15 others injured in a collision between a bus and a van in ward 3 of Bhokraha Narsingh Rural Municipality, Sunsari, on the East–West Highway on Monday morning.

Police said four of the injured are in critical condition. The deceased, including a woman, were travelling in the van. Their identities are yet to be confirmed.

According to police, a bus from Kakarbhitta heading to Diktel, Khotang, collided head-on with a van coming from the opposite direction at Jaluwa Tole.

The injured have been taken to various hospitals in Sunsari and Morang.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Yogaraj Khatri of the District Police Office, Sunsari, said bus driver Gopal Adhikari, 36, of Ward 1 in Arjundhara Municipality, Jhapa, has been taken into custody for investigation.

Officials, including Sunsari Chief District Officer Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, Superintendent of Police Suman Kumar Timilsina and a technical team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Saroj Singh from the Koshi Province Police Hospital, Inaruwa, visited the crash site.