KATHMANDU, Aug 3: The issue of driving poorly maintained vehicles persists in the Kathmandu Valley. Despite ongoing efforts by the police to conduct special inspections and take action against drivers operating vehicles in subpar mechanical condition, the problem continues.

On Friday, traffic police took action against 42 individuals driving vehicles that were found to be in poor condition during a special vehicle inspection at Satdobato in the valley. The inspection covered 68 vehicles, revealing numerous mechanical issues such as non-functional handbrakes, faulty lights, and excessively worn tires.

Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office Spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Bishwaraj Khadka, reported that these 42 vehicles were identified as having significant mechanical deficiencies.

Additionally, a bus driver was arrested on Friday in Jagati, Bhaktapur, for driving under the influence of drugs. The driver of bus Na 5 Kha 1553 was detained after a urine test conducted by the technical team at Nepal Police Hospital confirmed drug consumption. The joint team from the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office and the Narcotics Control Bureau Koteshwar has been conducting checks across the valley to detect drug use among drivers.

This follows a recent incident in Kuleshwar, Kathmandu, where three pedestrians were injured by a driver under the influence of drugs.