LUMBINI (MARCHWAR), April 8: A pickup van overturned in Bharwaliya village of Lumbini Cultural Municipality-7 in Rupandehi district on Monday evening, killing two people including a young girl and injuring 22 others.
The van (registration number Lu 1 Cha 2763) lost control and flipped over at Shivgadhiya bend. The District Police Office, Rupandehi, identified the deceased as 12-year-old Asmita Yadav of Shivpurwa in Gaidahawa Rural Municipality-1 and 48-year-old Janmati Yadav of Manmateriya in Shuddhodhan Rural Municipality-6.
One dead, two hurt in pickup van accident
The Area Police Office, Lumbini, reported that three of the injured are receiving treatment at Life Care Hospital in Lumbini, while 19 others are undergoing treatment at Universal College of Medical Sciences in Ranigaun, Bhairahawa.
Eyewitness Sandip Gupta said the van was speeding when it reached the bend, lost control, and overturned. The vehicle was carrying 24 passengers who had just performed a Mundan (head-shaving) ritual at the Maya Devi Temple in Lumbini and were returning home.
Police have detained the 26-year-old driver, Ashok Pasi of Bithuwa in Shuddhodhan Rural Municipality-4, Kapilvastu, for further investigation. Deputy Superintendent of Police and Rupandehi Police spokesperson Suraj Karki stated that the overloaded van meant for transporting goods exceeded its passenger capacity, which led to the accident.