The fatal accident occurred when a truck hit and dragged the scooter that had been stopped by traffic police for inspection.

KATHMANDU, Aug 15: A tragic accident in Ghattaghar, Bhaktapur, initially believed to have claimed the life of a woman, has now been confirmed to involve an unidentified male victim. The man, whose identity is yet to be revealed, died on the spot when a truck hit and dragged his scooter, which had been stopped by traffic police. 

It was initially believed that the body belonged to Sushma Nepali, as her brother had claimed. But after she contacted the police, it was confirmed that the identity was mistaken, and a bluebook found at the scene suggests the deceased might be Uttam Koirala, though it is still being investigated, said DSP Rajan Karki at the District Police Range, Bhaktapur.

It was initially believed that the body belonged to Sushma Nepali, as her brother had claimed. But after she contacted the police, it was confirmed that the identity was mistaken, and a bluebook found at the scene suggests the deceased might be Uttam Koirala, though it is still being investigated.

This tragic accident has once again highlighted the dire state of road safety in Nepal. The incident, which took place on Thursday afternoon, quickly escalated into a public outcry, quickly leading to a volatile situation.

According to eyewitnesses, the fatal accident occurred when a truck (Na 6 Ka 2173) heading toward Gatthaghar from Kaushaltar collided with a scooter (Ba 39 Pa 8944) that had been stopped by traffic police for routine inspection. The impact was so severe that the truck dragged the scooter and its rider for nearly 100 meters, leaving the victim’s body mutilated beyond recognition. The harrowing scene left bystanders in shock, with enraged onlookers resorting to vandalism and arson.

The truck driver fled the scene after the collision. In the aftermath of the accident, an angry crowd gathered at the scene, directing their fury towards the truck and the police for the haphazard checking. Police have restricted driving beyond the speed of 50 kilometer per hour in Koteshwar-Suryabinayak section of the Araniko Highway in the name of controlling accidents. 

The police resorted to firing tear gas shells to control the agitating crowd. Protesters vandalized the vehicle and pelted stones, demanding justice and accountability for the tragic loss of life. The resulting chaos led to a complete shutdown of traffic on the busy Bhaktapur-Koteshwar road and Sanothimi-Jadibuti-Pepsicola road for several hours.

Three hours after the incident, the police removed the body and sent it to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj, for post-mortem. The identity of the deceased man was confirmed only after the body was taken for the post-mortem.

As tensions escalated following the accident, separate teams of police personnel from the District Police Range in Bhaktapur and Kathmandu, along with the Armed Police Force, were deployed. A crowd of approximately 2,000 people also vandalized the traffic island at Gatthaghar Chowk. 

This incident is not an isolated case. It emphasizes the worrying trend of road accidents in Nepal, many involving heavy vehicles. Statistics show that road traffic accidents have become a leading cause of death and injury in the country. 

According to data from the Traffic Police, the number of road accidents has been steadily increasing, with a significant percentage involving trucks and other heavy vehicles. In 2023 alone, there were over 10,000 reported road accidents, resulting in more than 2,700 fatalities and thousands of injuries. 

The situation in Bhaktapur has also put a spotlight on the role of traffic police and the effectiveness of current traffic management systems. Questions have been raised about the decision to stop vehicles on busy roads, potentially putting lives at risk.

There is also growing support for the idea of banning heavy vehicles from certain urban areas during peak hours to reduce the risk of accidents. Similar measures have been implemented in other countries with positive results, and road safety activists argue that such a ban could help prevent future tragedies like the one in Bhaktapur.

Govt enforces new measures amid growing instances of road accidents

In response to the growing instances of road accidents, mainly involving the long-haul passenger bus services, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has issued a directive to transport entrepreneurs, urging them to implement a series of safety measures. 

The new measures include the installation of GPS tracking systems in all vehicles, regular maintenance checks and the phasing out of old and unfit vehicles. The ministry has also called for stricter enforcement of traffic rules, including the prohibition of driving under the influence and the requirement for long-route buses to have at least two drivers.

The ministry’s recommendations come on the heels of another tragic incident in July, when two buses were caught in a landslide on the Narayanghat-Mugling road section, resulting in multiple deaths. The whereabouts of the two buses and dozens of passengers onboard these ill-fated buses is yet to be ascertained as they were swept away by the swelling Trishuli River. 

Additionally, the ministry has urged transport operators to install CCTV cameras and transponders. 

A five-member task force led by Joint Secretary Chhabi Rijal of the Ministry of Home Affairs investigated the incident which highlighted the need for better safety standards and infrastructure improvements on Nepal’s roads. The task force submitted its report with recommendations to Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak last week.  

 
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