At least three persons died and 20 others were injured, four critically, in separate road accidents in the past 24 hours.

One Laxman Ghimire of Morang district died while eight others sustained injuries when a speeding Kathmandu-bound bus hit a stationary bus at Sarlahi stretch on the East-West Highway on Monday morning. Ghimire was the passenger on the bus heading to Kakadvitta. The vehicle was parked on the roadside after running out of fuel.

Eight other persons, including the drivers of both the buses, were injured in

the incident, said police.

Two among the injured are reportedly in critical condition.

In Syangja, a passenger fell off of the roof of a moving jeep and died at Swarek-1 on Sunday night. Police identified the deceased as Elina Saru, 18, of Kalikakot-4. Saru, who was critically injured, died while being rushed to hospital.

The incident took place as overcrowded vehicle tilted at a bent. Two other seriously injured passengers are receiving treatment at a local health facility.

In Rautahat said Umeshwor Yadav, 37, died after being hit by a jeep with an Indian registration number at Gaur-13 on Monday. The victim, a teacher at Laukaha-based school, died on the spot, said police. The driver absconded after the incident.  

In Palpa, 10 people were injured when a truck and a jeep collided head-on at Jarepipal along the Bartung-Butwal section on the Siddhartha Highway on Monday. The accident occurred when a Butwal-bound truck (Lu 1 Ka 950) collided with a jeep (Lu 1 Ja 1585) heading towards Burtuwang, Baglung from Butwal. The injured are the passengers of the jeep.

District Traffic Police Chief Pravin Acharya said that two injured passengers are in serious condition. The injured are receiving treatment at Prabas-based Lumbini Medical College.

(With inputs from local correspondents)