Four killed as jeep to Pathibhara catches fire from live wire

KATHMANDU: Four people lost their lives and two others were injured after a Bolero jeep en route to Pathibhara Temple caught fire due to an electric shock in Taplejung district.

According to the Koshi Province Police Office, the incident occurred this morning at Sewaro Chowk in Phungling Municipality-10 when the jeep, registered as Me 1 Cha 3011, came into contact with a hanging live wire.

The spark triggered a fire that engulfed the vehicle.

Among the deceased are 16-year-old Aadhya Acharya from Lalitpur, 70-year-old Binod Paudel and his 69-year-old wife Sarita Paudel from Bhadrapur Municipality-15 in Jhapa, and the driver, 42-year-old Durga Bhattarai of Phungling Municipality-10.

Two injured passengers, 45-year-old Sabina Acharya of Lalitpur Metropolitan City-10 and her 10-year-old son Bhabimaya Acharya, received initial treatment and are being airlifted to Kathmandu for further care.

Both are reported to be in stable condition, said SSP Bhim Bahadur Dahal, spokesperson of the Koshi Province Police Office.

Police are currently conducting a detailed investigation into the incident.