Kathmandu, October 4

A day after the meeting of District Security Committee led by Kathmandu Chief District Officer Ram Prasad Acharya decided to reappraise the time duration to be granted to tippers for movement in Kathmandu valley, it overturned the decision and said that the previous provisions would remain unchanged.

A meeting of DSC held yesterday had decided to allow tippers to ply the valley roads from 7:00pm to 7:00am, citing problems in transporting construction materials. The decision was overturned after yet another death in tipper-hit.

Ram Krishna Shrestha, 25, of Kavre died when a tipper hit the motorcycle he was riding at Pandu Bazaar of Suryabinayak Municipality-6, Bhaktapur, yesterday evening. The tipper driver fled the scene following the accident and police said they were searching for him. Angry mob had set the tipper on fire.

The DSC, which also comprises police officers, had decided to allow tippers to be operated from 8:00pm to 5:00am on and inside the Ring Road area, and on the Koteshwor-Jadibuti-Pepsicola stretch with effect from July 17. According to Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, the move was aimed at reducing road accidents caused by tippers and cargo trucks.

Despite the government’s restriction on the movement of tippers and cargo trucks in valley, they continue to unleash terror on bikers and pedestrians.

On August 7, Salina Kumari Bishwakarma, 36, of Nuwakot was killed and another injured after being struck by a tipper in Taudaha, Thasikhel, of Lalitpur Metropolitan City-14. On July 14, Anuja Ghimire, 18, of Chitwan died after a tipper hit the motorcycle she was riding pillion in Soaltee Mode, Kalimati. Royal Subedi, 18, of Bhaktapur died when a tipper knocked down the motorcycle he was riding pillion in Jadibuti on July 10.

MTPD said tippers, cargo trucks and tankers account for nearly 30 per cent of accidents due to negligence, speeding and non-compliance with traffic rules on the part of drivers. Most of the victims include motorcycle and scooter riders, and pedestrians, it informed.