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39 killed in Gandak bus plunge
Added At: 2012-07-15 11:46 PM
Last Updated At: 2012-07-15 11:46 PM
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE
PARASI: As many as 39 people were and 10 injured when a commuter bus ferrying Bol Bam pilgrims veered off the road and plunged into Gandak Canal at Nawalparasi's Triveni today. Dozens of passengers are still missing in the canal.
District Police Office Nawalparasi said bodies of 36 Indians and three Nepalis were fished out of the canal after the bus bound for Trivenidham from Jholanipur of Guthisuryapura VDC met with an accident at Triveni. Of the killed, 10 are females, 28 males and one child. SP Gyan Bikram Shah said 37 bodies had been identified.
Of the missing, 27 have been rescued. Those injured are the locals of Maharajgunj in Uttar Pradesh and are out of danger. Of them, five are undergoing treatment at headquarters Parasi-based Prithivichandra Hospital while five others are being treated at Sahid Memorial Community Hospital.
A source said the ill-fated bus skidded off the road and fell into the canal after it got stuck in the mud while trying to give side to a truck and tractors coming from the opposite direction. Police suspect the bus was carrying passengers beyond its capacity. Those who swam to safety, however, alleged that driver was driving under the influence. According to eyewitnesses, the driver too swam to safety and fled the scene. Nepal Police, Nepali Army personnel and locals carried out the rescue operation. SP Shah and CDO Bir Bahadur Rai visited the site.
Pilgrims from India's Maharajgunj had come to Triveni to collect water to offer it at India's Itaiya temple.
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Posted on: 2012-07-16 10:40:29
Very sad news. This accident has occurred because of the infrastructure deficit and the negligence of the driver. Everyday, there is news of road accidents in Nepal but the government has not even talked on bringing clear road safety policy. Government should now allocate budget for improving road safety. If no safety plans are brought, we would be hearing similar tragic news one after another. People killed during Maoist insurgency are always highlighted but why people killed on such accidents are not highlighted? Losing life through conflict is the same as losing life through accidents, after all people are killed in both ways. So now decision is to be made either to suffer from such accidents frequently or to bring and implement road safety programs. Immediate improvement in infrastructure and enforcement of strict law to the drivers as well as other stakeholders should be immediately brought. Ashish Gajurel, kathmandu