Around three dozen people, mostly APF men, were injured in the accident. Six of the critically injured were airlifted by the APF to Kathmandu for treatment. [break]
The dead APF personnel have been identified as constable Hasta Bahadur Biswokarma and soldiers Gajendra Khatri, Govinda Khadka, Anka Ram Chaudhary, Dipak Budha, Shiva Chaudhary and Hemanta Tharu.
Hasta, who was driving the APF van, died on the spot. Shiva and Anka Ram died while being rushed to the hospital, while Govinda, Dipak and Hemanta succumbed while undergoing treatment.
Chudamani Pokharel of Lalmatiya in Dang district, who was traveling in the bus, also died.
According to Trishna Pokharel, an injured bus passenger, the APF van (Na 1 Ga) was hit by the bus (Lu 1 Kha 3519), which was coming toward Butwal from Dang. The accident occurred when the bus attempted to overtake another bus.
Superintendent of Police Gunakar Khanal told Republica that the van was carrying a team of 27 APF personnel to Chandrauta of Kapilvastu district for a gun-fire practice.
Inspector duo Dev Bahadur Karki and Bijay Singh Thapa, along with Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Ram Prasad Regmi, Pradip Singh, Bhuvan Giri and Durga Basnet were airlifted to Kathmandu. Similarly, APF pesonnel Juwananda Khanal and Dinesh KC have been referred to Bharatpur Medical College for treatment.
Related story
Dakshinkali battalion bags best APF battalion award
