Eight people, including the driver, died when a Mahindra Scorpio crashed along Dhansar-Lamaha section in Chandrapur Municipality, Rautahat, on Tuesday morning. Four others were injured in the incident.

The Scorpio was carrying Hindu devotees who were returning home to Siraha from a visit to the Gadhimai Temple in Bara district.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Raj Kumar Rai, said that the preliminary inquiry of police found the driver lost control of the vehicle which subsequently veered off the road. The vehicle hit a tree on the side of the road. “We rushed to the scene immediately, rescued the injured, and sent them to the hospital. Unfortunately, eight people succumbed to their injuries,” said Rai.

The injured are being treated at the Trauma Centre in Chandranigahapur, while one of them has been referred to Birgunj for advanced treatment.

All of the deceased were from Banthiyato in Arnama Rural Municipality-3, Siraha. Police identified the deceased as Laru Devi Mahara, 60, Urmila Mahara, 30, Ram Kumari Mahara,50, Mahangi Devi Mahara, 55, Phulamanti Devi Chamar, 62, Ram Kumari Devi Mahara, 60, Sakuntala Devi Mahara, 30, and vehicle driver Shree Kumar Yadav, 40.