The deceased have been identified as Deepak Saday of Bhawanipur VDC-3, Siraha district, Bhola Kishore Saday of Madhwapur-8, Saptari, driver Ganesh Mahato Koiri of Sonmati, Siraha and Mahesh Saday of Madhubani in India, according Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Siraha Manoj Yadav.
The speeding tractor, which was going to Jaljale, Udayapur district from Kataha, Siraha in Shree Prasad Saday´s marriage procession, capsized in a drain after bumping into something. Sadaya Tole in Kataha, which was reveling over the wedding, is now in mourning.
The family of the bride is struggling to come to terms with the accident. The wedding of a neighbor´s daughter took place according to schedule but the wedding procession for Sukhariya Saday´s daughter Shyam Kumari never arrived.
Sukhariya had saved Rs 55,000 over the years and had taken a loan of Rs 120,000 for his daughter´s wedding but no wedding took place due to the accident. Apart from material loss in food and other arrangements, Sukhariya is now worried about the mental affect on his daughter. "She has not spoken ever since she heard about the accident and keeps staring blankly," Sukhariya said.
DSP Yadav said the accident occurred due to over-speeding and over-crowding of the tractor. Police said three people died on the spot while the driver breathed his last at the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) in Dharan. Eighteen of the injured have been discharged from Udayapur District Hospital in Gaighat, but Jaharda Saday, who is in critical condition, is undergoing treatment at BPKIHS.
Rato Machhindranath's chariot procession begins today