• Bus was overspeeding, overcrowded, claim survivors

JAJARKOT: At least 25 people were killed and 41 others injured in a road accident in Jajarkot district of mid-western Nepal on Thursday.

Identities of 15 victims have been established so far.

They are Ganesh Bohara and Nadil Chand of Bheri Malika Municipality-4, Shant Sunar of Bheri Malika-3, Gopal Sunar, Bahadur Bhandari and Sharmila Sunar of Bheri Malika-11, Dil Bahadur Budha of Dasera-1, Madan Pun of Sima-9 in the district.

Similarly, the other deceased have been identified as Ram Bahadur Basnet of Lahan-4, Santosh Chand of Bheri Malika-10, Nanda Lal Jaisi of Salm-5, Maniram Jaisi of Dasera-2, Naine Damai of Pajaru-8, Dale Tiruwa of Majakot-7 and Krishna Bahadur Giri of Rukum Chaurhajari in the district.

Other deceased are yet to be identified, according to police.

The incident took place when a bus (Na 3 Kha 2279) heading towards Khara from the district headquarters Khalanga fell some 400 metres off the road at Bheri Malika Municipality-4 in the district, said police.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, however, has put the number of casualties at 23. It said 27 people have been injured in the incident.

Rescue using night-vision copter

KATHMANDU: The rescue operation was conducted at the accident site in Jajarkot using night-vision helicopter immediately after the instruction of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bimalendra Nidhi, according to the Spokesperson at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), Bal Krishna Panthi.

MoHA, expressing deep sorrow over the incident, has extended condolences to those killed and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.

The injured are receiving treatment at the Jajarkot District Hospital.

Though it was said that 43 people were on board the bus, some survivors claimed there were more passengers.

One among the injured, Bina Kumari Khatri of Karki Gaun-3, said three passengers were seated in a single seat from Khalanga. The driver's help had cautioned the passengers not make any complaint about the matter to the police.

Another injured Tikaram Rawat, also secretary at the Rokaya Gaun VDC, claimed that the jampacked bus was on a high speed.

Parliamentarian and former Minister for Home Affairs Shakti Bahadur Basnet, expressing his sorrow over the incident, remarked that the incident took place due to the syndicate of the transportation entrepreneurs.