Fourteen blast victims brought to TUTH

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Doctors involved in the treatment of the Janakpur blast victims who were brought to the capital, said two of the 14 who were injured are in critical condition.

Dr Pratap Narayan Prasad of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj said Dipendra Das (32), had to undergo major operation today afternoon for serious abdominal injury. “His liver is also affected” added Dr Prasad.

Ramesh Thakur (45), who has bomb shrapnel all over his body is undergoing treatment. “We have checked all others, necessary tests and treatment is underway. The treatment is being given free of cost upon the direction of Health Minister Rajendra Mahato,” added Dr Prasad.

Minister Mahato had also reached the hospital after a Yeti Airlines flight brought four of the injured and an Army Helicopter ferried 10 others to Kathmandu. All the injured have been admitted in the hospital after emergency ward care.

General-secretary of Ramananda Yuba Club Manmohan Shah (32) told this daily from the bed the emergency ward at TUTH that he has shrapnel in his left leg. He recounted the blast close to him, a deafening explosion triggered a moment of confusion, people were rushing away from the scene. “Screams and howling followed, We found Bimal Sharan dead on the spot,” added Shah. Others, Ranju Devi Jha, Suresh Upadhyaya and Jhagaru Das died at the local hospital. Jha is an artist and member of Mithila Natya Parishad.

Another witness Surendra Kumar Bhandari, who had helped carry the injured, said that he was barely spared by the effect of the bomb as he had just gone aside to receive a call on his cell phone from the group.

Police said altogether 28 were injured. The remaining injured victims are being treated at Janakpur Zonal Hospital and Care Medical Janakpur. Police have arrested Jaya Prakash Chaudhari, resident of Bisariya-8, Saptari and investigation is on.

President Ram Baran Yadav visited the injured at TUTH and wished for their speedy recovery today evening.

Home Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhedar visited the hospital today evening to take stock of the situation and vowed to take action against those involved in heinous crimes.

After taking stock of the injured and their treatment, Minister for Health Rajendra Mahato flayed the attack saying that a peaceful strike of the Mithila people had been attacked. He also demanded that the deceased be declared ‘martyrs’ and sought ten lakh rupees compensation for the families of the deceased people.

Nepali Congress Chairman Sushil Koirala, NC leaders Ram Chandra Paudel and Bimalendra Nidhi, CPN UML leader Ishwor Pokhrel, Minister for Law Kashinath Jha and Tarai Madhes Loktantrik party leader Sarbendra Nath Shukla visited the injured and condemned the attack.