Seven people died and 34 others were injured when a truck overturned in Maidi Bhanjyang, Dhading, on Tuesday.

The accident occurred when  the victims were returning after a visit to Dholamandali Temple in Jwalamukhi Rural Municipality Ward No. 4.

Six people died on the spot while another person died in the course of treatment at the district hospital, said police.

All the deceased and the injured are from Bhulbhule village in Nilkantha Municipality Ward No. 2.

"The deceased have been identified as Bidur Gurung, Dwaj Bahadur Gurung, Tilak Gurung, Prem Bahadur Gurung, Bel Bahadur Gurung, Purnaman Shrestha and Sete Gurung," said Superintendent of Police Rabindra Regmi, the head of Dhading District Police Office.

The villagers had reserved the truck (GA1KHA 8012) to visit the temple for a ritual on Tuesday morning.

Most of them were drunk when they were returning home.

"The driver was heavily drunk," said Suresh Gurung, who was injured in the accident. "The truck, which was moving at a high speed, lost its control at a turn and hit a wall."

Twelve critically injured passengers were airlifted to Kathmandu in Nepal Army helicopter while others were taken to Kathmandu in ambulances.

Every Tuesday, except for the month of Shrawan, Dholamandali temple sees a horde of devotees carrying sacrificial goats to offer to the deity. Since bringing the sacrificed goats back with them is deemed unlucky, most make a feast of their sacrifice before returning from the temple.

Last year, three people had died in a tractor accident while returning from the same temple.