KATHMANDU, JULY 9
Police have arrested six truck drivers for driving under the influence of drugs in Kathmandu.
Senior Superintendent of Police Rajendra Prasad Bhatta, spokesperson for Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, said they were caught driving vehicles under the influence of prescription drugs during random drug screening in Nagdhunga yesterday.
The arrested have been identified as Krishna Bahadur Tamang, 20, of Nuwakot, Dambal Sarki, 25, of Parbat, Sanjaya Rai, 25, of Dhading, Govinda Kumal, 28, of Chitwan, Ramesh Khatri, 29, of Makawanpur and Samrat Prasain, 30, of Kathmandu. A joint team of KVTPO, technicians of Nepal Police Hospital, Narcotics Control Bureau and Thankot-based Police Circle had conducted drug test on the drivers. Of the 25 drivers who underwent drug test, six were found to be driving under the influence.
The window of time to detect drug in blood is very small as the drugs get absorbed in the bloodstream minutes after consumption.
Traffic police take the help of technicians of Nepal Police Hospital to detect drug traces on the drivers/riders.
According to police, psychoactive substances, cannabis and prescription drugs are used by riders, mainly youths.
Traffic police had launched the crackdown on impaired driving following a series of complaints from the public.
More than 135 persons have been arrested and punished for drug-driving over a period of 11 months.
SSP Bhatta has warned that persons driving under the influence of drugs are more vulnerable to road accident.
Psychoactive substance and prescription drugs cause drowsiness, dizziness and impaired thinking and judgment of the persons concerned. All these factors may lead to fatal road accident.
Drugged driving has emerged as a serious road safety issue in urban areas, including Kathmandu valley.
The rise in drug smuggling also corroborates this.
Impaired driving is punishable by the existing law.
The KVTPO said it had launched a crackdown to catch persons driving or riding under the influence of narcotics due to the increasing report of drug abuse in the valley. Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol not only leads to road accidents but also has adverse impacts on health.
A version of this article appears in the print on July 10, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
