KATHMANDU/DOTI, May 4: A bus belonging to Sudurpaschim Yatayat (Na 4 Kha 4018) on its way from Dhangadhi to Sanfebagar, Achham district, met with an accident at Chaukhutte in Kandamandu-2, Doti district on Wednesday morning, killing 16 people and injuring 22.
Among those killed, 13 have been identified, including bus driver Bir Bahadur Bista of Malakheti-9, Kailali; Raju Ghale of Dhading; Rewant Khadka of Lekgaun, Achham; Bali Ram Chaudhary, address unknown; Dammar Bogati of Marku-2, Achham; Ashok Dhungana of Hattikot-2, Achham; Ratiram Bhat of Mangalsen-1, Achham; Jagat Bohara of Oligaun-6, Achham; Harka Upadhyaya of Bajura, and Prastha Shahi of Jukot-3, Bajura. [break]
The bus was carrying 40 passengers.
The night bus met with an accident at 3 am Wednesday at Chaukhutte-3 that lies along the Doti-Achham border, police said. The bus veered off the road and fell 300 meters. Rescue efforts took 12 hours.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Rabindra KC said rescue and identification efforts are continuing.
Of those who survived the accident, 11 are seriously injured. They have been identified as Jayant Giri, Ram Kumar Rana, Raju Tharu, Prem Kunwar, Bharat Agri, Kumbha Agri, Tanka Tiruwa, Padam Gandharva, Prem Budha, Lok Raj Upadhyaya and Janak Pyakurel. They have been referred elsewhere for further treatment, according to District Hospital, Doti.
The remaining 11 passengers are receiving treatment at Doti District Hospital for minor injuries.
According to preliminary investigations by police, the accident took place due to overloading.
The accident site is two hours from the district headquarters. The bus was carrying mostly passengers returning home from India, police said.
The dilapidated condition of the road has led to many accidents in the past.
Twenty-one accidents have taken place in the far-western region in the past three weeks alone, killing 35 people and injuring over 200, according to Regional Traffic Office, Attariya.
“Overloading is the main reason behind the accidents,” said Inspector Krishna Bahadur Chand, chief of the traffic office.
Another common cause of accidents is alcohol consumption by drivers. Also, the absence of traffic policing in the hill districts lets public transport operators flout all safety precautions.
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