Five members of a family lost their lives after a motorcycle they were riding was hit by a passenger bus on Mahanawami last week. [break]
Similarly, a micro-bus (Me 1 Ja 887) packed with passengers overturned during the festival at Mrigauliya, Morang, killing 20-year-old Pankaj Gautam, the driver´s help, on the spot. Half-a-dozen passengers injured during the accident are receiving treatment at Koshi Zonal Hospital.
Most of the accidents that occurred during the festival involved overcrowded passenger vehicles. Negligence on the part of drivers as well as passengers is widespread during the festival as everyone is in a hurry to reach their destinations, and the roads are relatively empty, giving additional reason to overspeed.
"Accidents are common during the festival as vehicles are overcrowded and drivers are negligent," said Deputy Superintendent of Police Bimal Basnet of the regional traffic police office. "The negligence occurs in spite of monitoring by traffic police," he added.
On Ghatasthapana, two motorcycles (Sa 2 Pa 3499 and Sa 1 Pa 5269) rammed into each other at Lahan, Siraha, seriously injuring both motorcyclists. According to traffic police, the accident occurred when traffic movement was normal.
Related story
When will it end?
