Tipper kills one more person in Biratnagar

Published On: February 11, 2019 06:15 AM NPT By: Binod Subedi

BIRATNAGAR, Feb 11: It had not even been a month since a tipper crushed eleven-year-old Laxmi Dhakal of Sundar Haraicha to death, and another youth of Biratnagar died the same death on Sunday.

A tipper (1 kha 7012) headed for Bargachi from Tinpaini of Biratnagar bumped a cycle heading towards the same direction killing the cyclist Lagan Lal Rajbanshi of Kathari-2, Morang. Rajbanshi died on the spot, according to Morang Police.

Ghanshyam Shrestha, spokesperson for the District Police Office (DPO), Morang informed Republica that the driver of the tipper Nuna Sardar of Itahari-13 has been arrested for investigation.

After conducting a postmortem at Koshi Zonal Hospital, Biratnagar, the body of the deceased was handed over to the family members. Locals had torched seven tippers following the death of a minor on January 28. The situation came under control after the local government signed a seven-point agreement with the locals and the family members of the deceased.

The number of road accidents caused by tippers is increasing not only in Morang but also in all districts of Province 1. As per the details provided by the Province 1 Traffic Police Office, Itahari, a total of 19 accidents have occurred in the province in this fiscal year alone.

Nine persons were killed 43 others were injured in these accidents. Negligence of drivers and over speeding are the two major reasons behind the increasing road fatalities including the involvement of tippers. Since the beginning of the current fiscal year, nine tipper accidents have occurred in Morang alone.

The data maintained by the traffic police shows that most accidents occur on the Biratnagar-Biratchowk road section. Movement of heavy tippers along the road has threatened the safety of commuters as well as pedestrians of late. Despite being warned several times, the tipper drivers continue their negligence once they are behind the wheels.

On January 15, the government announced to ban the movement of tippers on the road for four hours every day. However, this announcement has not been implemented yet due to various obstructions.