SUNSARI, Aug 12: The death toll from the bus-microbus collision on Monday morning in Sunsari reached five. Three people had died on Monday following the accident, while two succumbed to fatal injuries later on.

Police identified the deceased as Shankar Mandal, 35, of Mahadev Rural Municipality-6; Anarwati Devi Yadav, 60, of Tirahut Rural Municipality; Jibacha Mahatman, 68, of Goithi in Saptari; Laxam Sada, 70, of Koshi Rural Municipality-6 in Sunsari; and Ashok Yadav, 40, of Biratnagar Metropolitan City-10 in Morang.

The accident occurred at Bhokraha-Narsing Rural Municipality-3 when a bus (Me 1 Kha 1799) traveling from Kakadbhitta, Jhapa, to Diktel collided head-on with a microbus (Pra 2-01-001 Ja 0047) coming from the opposite direction.

District Police Office spokesperson DSP Yogaraj Khatiwada said 20 of the injured are undergoing treatment at various hospitals, while three others sustained minor injuries.

Police have detained bus driver Gopal Adhikari, 36, of Arjundhara Municipality-1 in Jhapa and seized the bus for investigation. Overspeeding in rainy conditions is suspected to have caused the crash.