Tipper-hit kills woman

Kathmandu, December 16

A woman died when a tipper hit the motorcycle she was riding pillion in Ramghat, Kathmandu Metropolitan City-15, today.

The deceased has been identified as Sushila Deula, 43, of Chhetrapati, Kathmandu. According to Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, the accident took place at around 8:00 am. MPTD said Sushila’s brother Bidur Deula, 31, of Kirtipur, the rider, was also injured and is undergoing treatment at Teku Hospital. The tipper driver was arrested for legal action.

Despite the government’s restriction on the movement of tippers in the valley, the heavy vehicles continue to unleash terror on bikers and pedestrians. On November 21, Manoj Magar, 24, of Bardibas, Mahottari, had died after being hit by a tipper in Balkot of Bhaktapur.

MTPD said nine persons were killed by tipper-hit in the valley in the past two months. Water tankers, cargo trucks and tippers account for nearly 30 per cent of accidents due to negligence, speeding and non-compliance with traffic rules.

The government had decided to allow the tippers to be operated from 8:00 pm to 5:00 am on and inside the Ring Road, and on the Koteshwor-Jadibuti-Pepsicola stretch with effect from July 17 to reduce accidents caused by them. Recently, Patan High Court had quashed a writ petition filed by Birwa Construction Pvt Ltd on behalf of Dolakha chapter of Nepal Truck and Tipper Transport Entrepreneurs Association against the government’s move to impose restriction on the movement of tippers in the valley.