The 4-year-old minor Rijan Balami, son of Ram Balami, died on the spot after being hit by the truck on Wednesday afternoon nearby Kolpu Health Post, according to KMC.
Locals, enraged by the accident, torched the garbage truck and four other heavy vehicles used by KMC to manage dumped waste at the landfill site immediately after the accident.
"They torched two dozers, one loader and a tipper along with the truck. Likewise, they have also vandalized our office," said a dozer operator of KMC, requesting anonymity. KMC informed the truck belonged to a private sector company contracted by the office to transport the garbage.
Bikram Balami, the uncle of the deceased, said his nephew died as KMC and private sectors have been sending old vehicles to dump garbage of the capital to the landfill site. "The road here is already in its worst condition. On top of that, they are sending old vehicles that cannot be easily controlled. It caused my nephew's death," he bemoaned.
He said the locals resorted to vandalism also to express their mounting disappointment over the government's apathy toward their long-standing demands of infrastructural development in the area.
Seven months ago, a person had died in an accident along the road to the landfill site. Following the death, the locals had set KMC's office at the landfill site on fire.
After the locals resorted to vandalism on Wednesday, KMC and LSMC halted garbage disposal at the landfill site for an indefinite period.
Hari Kuwar, administrative chief of the Environment Division at KMC, said the fire by locals have caused damage of property worth Rs 40 million. "It is increasingly becoming difficult to dump garbage on the landfill site every day. Locals should not have taken violent measures to vent out their anger," said he.
He said KMC is going to hold a meeting with Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development on Thursday to resolve the issue.
Just two weeks ago, due to the strike by the locals, KMC and LSMC were not able to send garbage-laden trcuks to the landfill site. The locals had demanded infrastructural development among other things in the area.
"Today's anger against the government was not just because of the boy's death. They were venting their deep dissatisfaction over government indifference toward their long standing demands. The ministry should address their demands promptly. Otherwise, things may go even worse," said Kuwar.
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