Four police personnel died in a jeep accident that occurred at Ningladi stream of Patan Municipality along the Dasharath Chand Highway in Baitadi district early on Monday.

The jeep was carrying the police personnel returning to duty stations after handing over the ballot boxes.

According to Chief District Officer Suresh Panthi, three constables Lok Bahadur Bathamagar, Ramesh Saud and Birkha Bahadur Bista died on the spot while head constable Arjun Kathayat succumbed during treatment at Patan primary health center.

Nine police personnel including the driver were injured in the accident. The injured have been transported to Kohalpur on a helicopter of the Nepal Army.

The jeep fell some 300 meters down the roadway while returning after transporting filled ballot boxes to the district headquarters.

CDO Panthi added that the accident might have occurred due to sleepy driver busy ferrying ballot boxes throughout the night.