Bhairahawa, November 28

Police have identified all the deceased of yesterday’s bus accident in Sandhikharka Municipality of Arghakhanchi. As many as 19 persons sustained injuries in the accident.

The accident took place when a commuter bus headed to Butwal from Sandhikharka skidded off the road and fell some 250 metres below, along a sharp bend at Narapani in Sandhikharka-6. While 17 persons died on the spot, two breathed their last while undergoing treatment.

According to Arghakhanchi District Police Office, Shivalal Bhattarai, 56, Maya Puri, 18, Balaram Bhattarai, 54, Sita Kumari Sarki Nepali, 59, and Monika Khadka of Sandhikharka, Chhabilal Gaire, 54, Sita Ghimire, 50, Bishnumaya Gaire, 50, and Maighanath Jaisi Bhandari, 51, of Bhumikasthan Municipality, Manju BK, 15, Hari Bahadur Darji, 55, and Lok Bahadur Darji, 48, of Sitganga Municipality, and Krishna Bahadur Sunar, 42, of Chhatradev Rural Municipality of Arghakhanchi died on the spot.

Similarly, 3-month-old infant Shobhakhar Pokhrel and Sita Basnet, 27, of Kapilvastu’s Banganga Municipality, and Raj Kumar Mahat, 27, and bus driver Om Bahadur Thapa, 32, of Gulmi’s Madane Rural Municipality also died on the spot in the incident.

Two others, namely, Santa Bahadur Basnet (the vehicle owner), 38, of Sitganga Municipality and Shailesh Thapa, 22, of Bhumikasthan Municipality died during treatment. Basnet died at Butwal Chauraha Hospital and Thapa died at a primary health centre in Thada.

Police said process of handing over bodies to the kin following their identification was on.