Five people were killed in a road accident in the Thankot-Chitlang road section on Saturday.

The accident occurred after a car, travelling to Chitlang from Thankot, skidded off the road and fell some 600 metres on Saturday afternoon, said Deputy Superintendent of Police at Thankot, Narayan Adhikari.

The victims have been identified as Lazimpat locals Omkar Nidhi Tiwari, 67, his 64-year-old wife Kalpana Tiwari, Mahesh Kumar Gautam, and his two children, aged six and four.

Gautam’s six-year-old daughter, who had sustained serious injuries, died in the course of treatment at the Vayodha Hospital in Balkhu, Adhikari added.

His wife, Shrishti Tiwari Gautam, who was also on board the vehicle, managed to escape unharmed after jumping out of the car.

Police suspect that the victims were travelling to Chitlang for a weekend getaway.

This is at least the third fatal road accident that occurred within 24 hours in the country.

Earlier today, at least two people died and nine others were injured in a road accident in Baglung.

The accident occurred after a jeep, travelling to Dhorpatan from Burtibang, overturned in Pyangkhola of Dhorpatan Rural Municipality early on Saturday.

Likewise, at least 12 people lost their lives after an overspeeding bus plunged into the Rapti river in Bhalubang of Dang district on Friday evening.