The protest entered its 10th day on Wednesday. [break]
The aggrieved party has obstructed the vehicular movement along the 26-kilometer Bahrabise-Tatopani road section.
At least 27 people died after a bus (Ba 2 Kha 4013) operated by the association plunged down into the river at the Baseri section of the road on September 6. Of them, the dead bodies of 22 are yet to be recovered.
Protesting the incident, the next of kin have prevented the association´s vehicles from plying about the road. They have also formed an agitation committee led by Tok Bahadur Subedi to exert pressure on the association to pay compensation for the loss of lives. The committee has demanded Rs 300,000 in compensation for each of the bereaved family. However, the association has yet to provide the compensation despite repeated attempts to settle the issue.
Earlier, the next of kin have rejected an offer of Rs 100,000 as insurance money and an additional Rs 20,000 from the ssociation.
“We cannot pay more than what is required by a government policy,” said Kavita Man Shrestha, president of the association.
As per the government policy, drivers, their helpers and pedestrians who die in an accident are entitled to receive Rs 500,000 as insurance money, while the passengers can get only Rs 100,000.
“Accidents occur time and again. We cannot go against the policy,” Shrestha added.
Locals, tourists and small business operators have been affected by the prolonged obstruction of the vehicular movement just weeks ahead of the Dashain festival. Eighteen buses ply regularly along this route on normal days.
Inspector Heramba Sharma of Bahrabise Area Police Office said the local administration is leaving no stone unturned to settle the compensation row. Meanwhile, the authorities have suspended their search of those missing in the river a week since the gruesome accident.
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