Kathmandu, February 22

Two persons were killed and one injured when the cable of an elevator they were on while working at an under-construction building snapped last evening.

The deceased have been identified as Nabin Kumar Chaudhary, 30, and Bhumi Kumar Chaudhary, 25, of Saptari district. Sachitananda Chaudhary, 20, who was critically injured and is undergoing treatment at the National Trauma Centre, also hails from Saptari district. Deputy Superintendent of Police Tekunanda Iwa Limbu, in-charge at Metropolitan Police Circle, Janasewa, said Nabin died on the spot, while Bhumi Kumar succumbed to injuries in the course of treatment.

Nabin, Bhumi Kumar and Sachitananda, who went up on the ill-fated elevator with construction materials, were unloading them on the fourth floor of the under-construction building on the premises of Bir Hospital, when it crashed at around 7:30pm. DSP Limbu said the condition of Sachitananda was critical due to internal bleeding.

The elevator was used to lift construction materials from ground. DSP Limbu told THT that police had launched an investigation into the incident. “The contractor claimed that he replaced the cable of the lift from time to time as part of safety measures. Probe has begun to ascertain whether the contractor and others are responsible for the crash,” he said without disclosing who the contractor was.

DSP Limbu said, “Workers were insured by the contractor and we’ll help the kin of the victims receive the insurance amount.”