PALPA, Nov 8: Seventeen people were killed and 11 injured after a bus veered off a hilly road in Hansapur VDC of Arghakhanchi district and plunged 800 feet down the road on Sunday morning. Seven of the injured are in critical condition, according to the police. [break]
The passenger bus (Lu 1 Kha 3987) that had left Gokhunga for Sandhikharka at 7 in the morning met with the accident at Lambhir of Lamrepani village in Hansapur-3 just 15 minutes later. The accident site is 21 kilometers from Sandhikharka, the district headquarters.
Among those killed in the accident are Manisha Paudel (35), Baburam Khanal (18), Kesawata Poudel (34), Prem Paudel (58), Meera Paudel (30), Beduram Paudel (35) and one-and-a-half-year-old Sushma Paudel of Gokhunga-7.
Putala KC (24) and Janardan Khanal (19) of Gokhunga-9, Bhupa Bahadur Gharti Magar (35), Juna Hunjali (17), Hari Prasad Panthi (44) and Nandi Gharti Magar (60) of Hansapur-3, Himal Pun (4) and Man Bahadur Pun (26) of Chujha-3, Pyuthan, and Govinda KC (18) of Chujha-6 were also killed.
Surya Bista, the bus driver from Pattharkot, Arghakhanchi, died while receiving treatment at District Hospital Arghakhanchi.
The injured have been taken to the District Hospital and Lumbini Zonal Hospital in Butwal for treatment.
Inspector Ramesh Kumar Panthi of Arghakhanchi said police faced difficulties in rescue operations due to the difficult terrain of the accident site. He added that teams of police from the District Police Office, Hansapur Police Post and Mahendra Dal Battalion were involved throughout Sunday in search and rescue operation.
Eyewitness Ram Bahadur Chauhan said the accident occurred after the bus plied on the recently filled up edge of the road. The bus was carrying 31 passengers.
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