Kathmandu, April 29

The number of children dying in road accidents is increasing in Kathmandu valley, as per the data with Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu.

As per the data, 16 children below the age of 16 years had died in road accidents in the fiscal 2016/17 while 12 children died in the fiscal 2015/16 in the valley. In the fiscal 2015/16, a total of 5,668 cases of road accidents were recorded, in which,166 people lost their lives. Among them 7.9 per cent were children. In the fiscal 2016/17, percentage of children dying in road accidents reached 8.8 per cent.

In the fiscal 2012/13, 13 children died in road accidents. Likewise, 14 children died in the fiscal 2013/14 and as many as 13 in the fiscal 2014/15.

Of the total number of children admitted in Annapurna Neurological Hospital, 38 were injured in road accidents. Of them, 25 children were injured in accidents while walking on roads.

“Children injured in road accidents have suffered head injuries, fractures and soft tissue injuries,” said Dr Bhoj Raj Adhikari.

Deputy Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City Gita Satyal said the metropolis was planning to  construct children-friendly infrastructures. “Kathmandu Metropolitan City will formulate rules and regulation to reduce road accidents soon,” she added.