Sudurpaschim Province Minister of Internal Affairs and Law Prithvi Bahadur Singh, 65, his wife Amrita Singh, and his sister-in-law Jaya Devi Singh died in a road accident in Dharchada of the Kedarsyu Rural Municipality in Bajhang district on Tuesday afternoon.

Two other people—the minister’s personal security officer, police constable Dipendra Bhandari, and driver of the vehicle Dharma Raj Joshi—sustained injuries in the accident.

According to DIG Bharat Bohara, head of Sudurpaschim provincial police, there were five people in the vehicle, travelling from Dadeldhura to Chainpur, when it fell some 50 metres off the road towards Kalanga riverbank in Dharchada. Singh’s wife, and her sister-in-law, died on the spot while Singh, who was medevaced to Nepalgunj Medical College in Kohalpur was declared dead at around 5:33pm by the hospital.

The injured are receiving treatment at the same hospital.

DSP Netra KC of the Armed Police Force said that the accident occurred at around 2 pm. Singh was immediately taken to a local medical clinic for preliminary treatment and then to Deura Primary Health Centre, both in Deura of Kedarsyu-1.

“Later, Singh along with the two injured were taken to Nepalgunj Medical College in Kohalpur by a Nepal Army helicopter for further treatment,” said KC.

According to a press release issued by the Nepalgunj Medical College, the three injured were brought to the emergency ward of the hospital at 4:58 pm. Singh, who sustained major injuries, died during the course of treatment. Bhandari and Joshi’s condition is stable, said the hospital in the statement.

Singh was elected to the provincial assembly from the Nepali Congress from Bajhang (A) in the November 2022 elections.