A patient and two of her relatives died on Monday when a speeding ambulance swerved off the road and fell some 300 metres at Godak along the Mechi Highway in Ilam district. The accident happened at around 4am.

A preliminary investigation suggested that the incident happened as the ambulance driver dozed off. The vehicle (Me 1 Cha 1747) was heading towards Phidim in Panchthar carrying a patient and three of her relatives from Jhapa.

Police identified the deceased as Renuka Adhikari, 86, her grandson Ananda Adhikari, 34, of Ektin-1 and daughter Narimaya Chauhan, 62, of Memeng-6 in Panchthar.

Ananda’s uncle Tikaram Adhikari and driver Gehanath Prasai sustained serious injuries in the incident.

“The driver admitted that he dozed off as he was sleepless the whole night,” said Police Inspector Rudra Chudal.

Having driven the ambulance to Jhapa from Panchthar on Sunday evening, Prasai was heading to Panchthar again carrying another patient later that night.

Hari Poudel, the ambulance operator, claimed that rooms were managed in Phidim and Birtamod for the ambulance driver to take sleep.

“But the drivers often ferry patients on their return journey the same day, without informing the operator,” he added.