The death toll in Friday morning jeep accident in Darchula has risen to eight after two of the injured passengers succumbed to their injuries.

Five others are injured, with one in critical condition, police said.

The accident occurred around 4 am in ward 6 of Shailyashikhar Municipality as the jeep was returning to Gokuleshwar from Malikarjun temple in the district. The jeep had swerved off the road and plunged into a ravine near the Sirad river, according to Hira Singh Dhami, the chairman of Malikarjun Rural Municipality.

Among the deceased are two Indian nationals, according to the police. The victims have been identified as Birendra Rawal, 30, and Shanti Rawal, 28, of ward 5 of Shailyashikhar; Dilip Bista, 45, of ward 9 of Shailyashikhar; Sanjeev Bohara, 15, and Birendra Bohara of ward 5 of Dilashaini Rural Municipality; Mina Lekhak, 40, of ward 9 of Shailyashikhar; and two Indian nationals, Mohammad Safir, 45 and Mohammad Basim, 18, from Bijnor district in Uttar Pradesh state.

Five injured passengers are receiving treatment at Gokuleshwar Hospital in the district.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Prakash Dahal said the driver, Sunil Joshi of ward 8 of Malikarjun Rural Municipality, is in critical condition with a head injury. Other injured in the accident are Sandeep Rawal of ward 5 of Shailyashikhar, Uttam Rokaya of ward 5 Dilashaini, Sohin Sah of Pilibhit, India, and Prakash Rawal, 22, whose address is yet to be confirmed.

Later in the morning, a Nepal Army helicopter flew some of the critically injured to Seti Regional Hospital in Dhangadhi for treatment.

Meanwhile, Baitadi’s Dilasaini Rural Municipality, which lost two of its residents in the accident, announced a public holiday within its jurisdiction on Friday to mourn the deaths.