Six people were injured, one of them critically, after an ambulance and a mini-truck collided on the Prithvi Highway in Tanahun district on Thursday morning, police said.

The accident occurred at around 6:20am in Manhari, Ward No. 6 of Myagde Rural Municipality.

According to police, the crash involved a mini-truck travelling from Pokhara to Damauli and an ambulance heading in the opposite direction. The two vehicles collided head-on along the highway.

Those injured include ambulance driver Kushal Pariyar, 24, from Thawang Rural Municipality-2 in Rolpa, along with passengers Junrakhi Budha Magar, 61, Anjana Budha Magar, 25, Yuwan Budha Magar, 3, Chijmaya Gharti, 36, of Bhume Rural Municipality-7 in East Rukum, and Dhan Prasad Budha Magar, 60, from Thawang Rural Municipality-2.

Police said Anjana Budha Magar sustained injuries to her face, chest, head and right leg and remains in critical condition.

Driver Pariyar and Junrakhi Budha Magar are undergoing treatment at the GP Koirala National Centre for Respiratory Diseases in Jharauta. Anjana Budha Magar, Yuwan Budha Magar, Chijmaya Gharti and Dhan Prasad Budha Magar are being treated at the Provincial Hospital in Damauli.

The mini-truck driver, 38-year-old Mahendra Ranabhat of Myagde Rural Municipality-2, was also injured in the collision. Police said details of his injuries are yet to be confirmed.

The District Police Office in Tanahun said an investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing.