• 18 passengers killed, 26 others injured

DOTI: Those who were killed in the bus accident near Raduwa River in Amargadhi Municipality along the Dr KI Singh Highway connecting Dadeldhura and Doti, on Thursday evening, have been identified.

The deceased have been identified as Keshav Kadayat (21) of Godawari Municipality-2, Kailali; Sharada Kadayat (20) of Godawari Municipality-10; Yogendra Bohara (22) and Shankar Jora (24) of Shikhar Municipality-7, Doti; Sharada Rawat (22) of Shikhar Municipality-7; Narayan Chaudhary of Dhangadhi Metropolis-28, Kailali; Shashi BK (35) of Dipayal Silgadhi Municipality-4 in Doti; Goda Bhat (25) of Dipayal Silgadhi-11; Kailash Rawal (40) and Yogendra Rawal (40) of Dipayal Silgadhi-8; as confirmed by Sub Inspector Ganesh Nagari at Traffic Police Post, Dadeldhura.

Likewise, Chakra Dhami (22) of Nawadurga Rural Municipality-3 in Dadeldhura; Rohit Balayar of Shikhar Municipality-10 in Doti; Maya Rawal (30) of Ganyapadhura-3, Dadeldhura; Puran Kathayat of Godawari-10 in Kailali; Tilak Khati (17) and Tej Dhami (30) of Nawadurga Rural Municipality-3, Dadeldhura; Sagar Balayar (15) of Shikhar Municipality-10; and Padam BK (24) of Shikhar Municipality-11 were also killed in the incident, Sub Inspector of Police Nagari said.

Until the filing of this report, preparations were underway to conduct the postmortem of victims at Dadeldhura-based sub-regional hospital, Police Inspector Khagendra Saud at District Police Office said.

The bus belonging to Peace Zone Academy based in Shikhar Municipality, Doti, plunged 150 metres into Raduwa River killing 18 persons and injuring 25 others aboard the bus, on Thursday.

The bus was returning from local Ugratara cultural fair along the KI Singh Highway when the accident occurred.

Of the total injured, 11 were said to be in critical condition and were sent to a health institution in Kailali for further treatment. 13 others have been receiving treatment at the sub-regional hospital, while two others have been discharged, police informed.