One person died and another was injured when a truck en route to Hetauda from Kathmandu fell into the Trishuli river at Ichakamana Village Council–4 along the Prithvi Highway on Wednesday morning. Twenty-year-old Suraj Shrestha, of Hetauda Sub-metropolis-14 died in the course of treatment at a local hospital, police said. 

Sonam Lama, 21, is receiving treatment at College of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital in Bharatpur. Lama is reported to be in serious condition. 

According to Superintendent of Police Deepak Thapa at District Police Office, Chitwan, the truck  (Na 5 Kha 9946) plunged some 60 metres into the river. The truck is yet to be retrieved. 

Three persons, including the driver, are believed to be travelling in the truck when the accident occurred, police said, adding that a search has been launched for the driver. 

A person was seen running away by eye witnesses after the truck fell off the road, according to SP Thapa. 

Police suspect the individual could have been the truck driver. A team from Kurintar’s Armed Police Force has been mobilised to find out if there were others inside the truck. The authorities are investigating to determine the cause of the accident.