Dang, April 15

A driver presumed to have died in a tractor accident at Ramri of Tulsipur – 1 was spotted in a hospital two days later with injuries.

In a surreal event, the person identified as Ram Chandra Gharti of Kotgaun – 1 in Rolpa and assumed dead after his tractor met with an accident came to the Rapti Zonal Hospital for treatment.  Police had earlier confirmed that driver Gharti and his helper Sunil Pun died in the accident.

The tractor (Lu 2 Ta 2558) heading for Tulsipur from Liwang of Rolpa met with the accident at 10:00 pm on Wednesday. But the driver said they actually came from Mokhala of Salyan.

According to the driver, an unidentified person forcibly boarded the tractor at Sri Nagar of Salyan. During the time of accident, there were three persons on the tractor – the driver, his helper and the unidentified person. Gharti added that the tractor which needed repairs met with an accident while negotiating a turn.

Gharti further claimed he gained consciousness at 3:00 pm yesterday and painstakingly walked to a nearby house at 7:00 pm. Meanwhile, Gharti’s parents took home the body of another person after post-mortem yesterday, police said. “The relatives took the body. It happened because of similar appearance, but we have informed the relatives,” said Inspector Santosh Roka.

Final rites and cremation of the body thought to be of Gharti has been abandoned after Gharti came into contact. Police have yet to identify the person who died in the accident. Gharti, who is receiving treatment at the hospital, is reported to be in normal condition.