They were travelling on the same scooter (registration number plate Ko 22 Pa 467) and going north from Itahari when it collided with an ambulance (registration number Ko 1 Cha 7009) coming towards Itahari from Dharan. They sustained serious injuries in the accident and died on the way to hospital, according to police.

The deceased are 45-year-old Duk Bahadur Karki of Itahari Sub-metropolitan City-2, Nirman Gautam, 40, of Bhairavsthan Riddhi rural municipality, Palpa district and 41-year-old Sarita Kafle, police said. The ambulance and its driver Sunil Khadka have been impounded for action.