At least six persons died and five others were injured in a Tata Sumo jeep accident at Portaha in Ganeshman Chardham Municipality-8 of Dhanusha district along the East-West Highway on Saturday.

The deceased have been identified as Naya Raj Jibi, 29, of Dharmadevi-9, Sankhuwasabha, Shardha Regmi Dahal, 35, of Biratnagar-4, Gyan Bahadur Chauhan, 27, of Nirmalidanda, Khotang, Prahlad Neupane, 33, of Morang, Khem Kumar Rana Magar of Letang-8, Morang and Pranita Rai of Rabi Rural Municipality-6, Panchthar.

According to Inspector Madhav Raj Kafle, the ill-fated four-wheeler was heading towards Jhapa from Kathmandu when the incident occurred at around 2 am today.

The incident might have occurred due to over-speed, Kafle added.