A teacher and a student lost their lives on Saturday afternoon after falling into the gorge of the Khorunga Khola in Menchhayayem Rural Municipality, Tehrathum, while making a TikTok video.

Deputy Superintendent of police Chinimaya Tamang identified the deceased as Rabina Rajbanshi, a teacher at the local Gaukhuri Secondary School, and Sushmita Bhattarai, approximately a 12-year-old studying in the seventh grade at the same school.

The two had gone swimming in the Khorunga stream, located south of the school, along with other friends during their weekend break. While attempting to create a TikTok video by the river, they fell into the gorge. Both died on the spot, confirmed Yadav Bahadur Khapung, chairperson of the Menchhayayem municipality.

Police have recovered the bodies from the gorge and transported them to the riverbank. Further investigations are ongoing.