Two people were killed and one went missing after a van en route to Kathmandu from Pyuthan skidded off the road along the Prithivi Highway and fell into the Trishuli River at Ichhyakamana Rural Municipality Ward No. 4 in Chitwan on Thursday morning.

Rescuers recovered the bodies of two accident victims about four hours later.

The vehicle carrying four people, including the driver, had plunged into the river. One swam to safety while three had gone missing.

The two deceased were identified as the 23-year-old driver and a 33-year-old woman. While the husband of the deceased woman survived the accident, their 15-year-old daughter is still missing. According to police, the family was on its way to Kathmandu for the daughter’s medical treatment.

DSP Surya Thapa, spokesperson of District Police Office, Chitwan, said, “The bodies of the driver and one female passenger were retrieved from the river by the Armed Police Force rescue team.”

After the accident, divers from the Armed Police Force, Kurintar along with Nepal Police had initiated a rescue operation. Nine APF personnel, including five divers, led by Deputy Inspector of Armed Police Prahlad Silwal, were engaged in the search.

The van was found in the river along the Prithvi Highway at around 9.30 am.