CHITWAN: A total of 216 road accidents have been reported in Chitwan district in the past six months.

So far, 58 persons have died and 361 have been injured, the District Traffic Police Office, Chitwan, said.

According to the Office, most of these accidents have occurred on the East-West Highway. Seventy-four traffic accidents took place on this highway, killing 22 persons.

Similarly, six persons were killed in 34 different accidents that took place on the Narayangadh-Muglin road section, five were killed in 37 accidents that occurred in Bharatpur Ring Road while 18 persons lost their lives in 58 traffic accidents which took place in other roads. Most number of accidents took place in the month of Mangshir in the current fiscal year.

Among the 58 casualties of traffic accidents until the month of Poush in this fiscal year, 48 were males, six females, and four children. Three hundred and thirty-six vehicles were involved in a total of 216 accidents that occurred in the six-month period, the Office said.

Similarly, 38 accidents were caused due to driver's negligence, 10 due to overtaking, seven due to drunken driving, while mechanical dysfunction, negligence of passengers are listed among others causes.

Over speeding has been identified as a key risk factor in the district.