Three footballers died and two suffered critical injuries when a van carrying 21 people failed to negotiate a steep climb, skidded backwards and plunged 30ft downhill near Kalimpong on Sunday evening.

The accident occurred near the Nurbong tea garden where the deceased and the injured belonged to. The estate is around 25km from Kalimpong.

Sources said 21 people, mostly footballers of a local club, were returning after a match at the nearby Gitanga village. “It seems the pick-up van could not negotiate a steep climb and hence, skidded backwards around 6.30pm,” said an administrative source.

The vehicle plunged around 30ft downhill. Suraj Thapa, 25, and Dipal Thapa, 22, died on their way to hospital, while Ashwin Tamang, 16, succumbed to his injuries at a private nursing home in Siliguri.

“The condition of Suren Subba, 42, and Aryan Khawas, 15, is critical and they have been hospitalised,” said Gorkhaland Territorial Administration head Anit Thapa.

Four others suffered major injuries and are under treatment at the nursing home in Siliguri. Those who suffered minor injuries were released after preliminary treatment at the nursing home and Sukna block primary health centre.