Hetauda, Nov. 12 -- Sanjay Yadav was heading home to Sarlahi from Kathmandu to celebrate Chhath. He boarded a microbus at 3am on Thursday, accompanied by neighbours and relatives from his village, all bound for the same festival gathering.

But as the vehicle, bearing registration number Madhesh Province 03-001 Ja 0880, reached Chisapani Gadhi in Bhimphedi Rural Municipality-6 of Makawanpur district, the journey turned into a tragedy.

At around 5:45am, the microbus suddenly veered off the road and plunged around 700 metres down a steep slope. Most of the passengers were asleep at the time.

Yadav was dozing when the vehicle crashed.

"The vehicle had stopped at Chisapani Gadhi. As the driver tried to move forward, it suddenly lurched and...