Former Kathmandu CDO‚ co-passenger die in accident

PRAKASH DAHAL

HETAUDA: A jeep carrying Sthaneshwor Devkota, Executive Director of Foreign Employment Promotion Board, and Dr Rakesh Pant from Deurali met with an accident this morning at Bhimphedi of Makwanpur, killing both and injuring driver Raj Kumar Tamang.

According to Makwanpur District Police Office, the jeep heading to Rautahat from Kathmandu veered off the road and fell 200 metres below at around 9:30am.

Devkota and Dr Pant succumbed to injuries while being rushed to the hospital, said Hetauda SP Purna Chandra Joshi. “The bodies have been sent to Kathmandu,” said SP Joshi. “Critically injured Tamang has been referred to Kathmandu.”

Mukesh Shah, an eyewitness, said the hairpin bend was a bit too narrow for the jeep to make a proper turn and it fell off the road.

Just before the accident, Devkota had called his brother-in-law Kumar Gautam in Hetauda to prepare lunch. “We were waiting for him. When I called back to ask where he had reached, someone else picked up the phone and informed us about the accident,” said Gautam. Devkota, along with Dr Pant, was on his way home in Rautahat to meet his ailing father. Dr Pant from Deurali, Kavre, was the only son of Madhav Pant, Under Secretary, the Department of Auditor General. Dr Pant was pursuing his MD.

Devkota, a former bureaucrat, had served as Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Kanchanpur and other districts. After his retirement, Devkota was appointed as the executive director of FEPD.

He is survived by two sons, Sudip and Suman, and wife, Goma.

Six killed in bus fall

PARASI: At least six people were killed and 23 injured, six critically, after a commuter bus met with an accident at Acemod, Daunne in Nawalparasi along the east-west highway. The bus fell 200 metres down the road. Three passengers died on the spot. Two others died at Daunnedevi Polyclinic, Bardaghat and one at Lumbini Zonal Hospital, Butwal while undergoing treatment. Identities of three dead have been ascertained: Bus driver Bodhraj Kafle (45) of Farsatikar-3 and Haridwar Tharu (50) and Ayodhya Tharu (44) of Gangaulilya of Rupandehi. Identities of three others were yet to be ascertained. Critically injured passengers are undergoing treatment in Butwal. Others are being treated at Daunnedevi Polyclinic. The bus was carrying 30 farmers who were returning from Mainihawa, Rupandehi.