Three people were killed and two others injured when a jeep met with an accident at Siddheshwar in Palpa on Sunday night while heading to extinguish a forest fire.

The accident occurred near Asare in Salleri Pakhapani Community Forest, located in ward 1 of Rainadevi Chhahara Rural Municipality. The deceased have been identified as 36-year-old Dipendra Budhamagar, 31-year-old Chetan Narayan BK (Sunar), and 23-year-old Janak Regami Magar.

According to ward chair Som Bahadur Darlami, Budhamagar and BK died on the spot, while Regami Magar succumbed to his injuries while being rushed to Tansen, the district headquarters.

The injured are receiving treatment at Mission Hospital in Tansen.

Locals said the jeep fell around 150 metres off the road.

Police said the jeep was heading to Thulo Pokhara when the accident occurred. Preliminary investigations suggest brake failure while climbing uphill, and further investigation is underway.