Khatri, 35, who was gravely injured in the accident, died during treatment at Lumbini Zonal Hospital. He had suffered serious head injuries in the accident.[break]
Khatri was traveling in a Mahindra Scorpio (Ba 4 Cha 542) from Nepalgunj to Kathmandu when the vehicle lost control and overturned at Saljhandi while trying to prevent collision with a bicycle coming from the opposite direction. The accident happened at 4 pm.
Purnabasi Tharu, the cyclist, who was a resident of Saljhandi, died on the spot, according to Saljhandi Area Police Office.
Five people were injured in the accident. They have been identified as journalists Radhika Dhakal, D R Acharya, Leela Ghimire and Prakat Kumar Sishir -- all of whom are associated with Karobar daily -- and Yuvraj Karki, circulation chief of the daily.
Of the injured, the condition of Acharya is serious. He received injuries to his chest, doctors at Lumbini Zonal Hospital said. The hospital has referred all the injured to Universal Medical College, Bhairahawa.
The vehicle´s driver went absconding after the accident, police said.
Khatri´s body is being kept at Lumbini Zonal Hospital for post-mortem.
Meanwhile, issuing a press statement Society of Economic Journalists of Nepal (SEJoN) on Monday expressed condolences over the untimely demise of Khatri.
“The news has saddened us all. Khatri had been an active economic journalist for over a decade. His sudden demise is an irreparable loss to economic journalism,” reads the statement. Khatri is survived by his wife and a son.
Khatri had started journalism from a weekly called Satdine.
Also, issuing a condolence message, Republica chapter of Federation of Nepali Journalists expressed deep sorrow over his death and condolence to the bereaved family members. The chapter prays for speedy recovery of the injured ones.
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