Khotang, April 15

Locals and relatives of Bimala Rai of Khotang, Nirmalidanda who died in a bus accident in Mahadevsthan on Tuesday, blocked the Diktel-Chakhewabhanjyang road section for the whole day today demanding compensation for the victim’s family.

Besides Rai, 23 others had lost their lives when a bus met with an accident at Barkhetar in Khotang’s

Mahadevsthan-1. Thirty-one others had sustained injuries in the mishap. Rai’s kin and the locals disrupted vehicular movement atNirmalidanda from early morning.

They have put forth a number of demands, including release of the insurance amount for the families of the victims and action against officials of the concerned transport entrepreneurs’ committee for allowing the bus to carry more passengers than its capacity. The protesters have also lamented the loss of cash, ornaments and other belongings of the deceased.

Meanwhile, DSP Bidhyananda Majhi said attempts were under way to open the blocked road.

“I’ve heard about the disruption but heard that only the vehicles belonging to Khotang Transportation Entrepreneurs’ Committee were prevented from plying the road,” he said, adding a team led by inspector Saroj Rai had been assigned to remove obstructions at the road section.

The road obstruction

has affected hundreds of passengers.