Kathmandu, January 7

A microbus operating on the Kalanki-Bouddha route today ran over five pedestrians who were crossing the road in Samakhusi Chowk today, killing one lady and leaving four others injured, one severely, today at 12:00 noon.

Sita Dahal, 55, of Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu, was killed after the microbus with number plate Ba 1 Ja 9766 ran over the pedestrians.

Among the injured is Laxmi Sapkota, 55, also from Dhumbarahi. She was admitted at Grande Hospital after suffering severe head injuries, according to police. Sushil Adhikari, 53, and his wife Sarita Adhikari, 50, of Kotheshwor, Kathmandu have fractured their legs while Sapana Rai, 19, of Khotang suffered minor injuries. All three are undergoing treatment at Samakhusi based All Nepal Hospital.

According to Police Inspector Mohan Bikram KC of Gongabu Buspark police beat, driver Tanka Raj Karki  of Umakunda Rural municipality of Ramechap district was immediately held after the incident.

Inspector KC said, “The street was busy as lots of people were crossing the road and walking on the footpath at the same time. But, the way the microbus hit so many people and injured them suggests that the driver must have accelerated more than the speed limit.” He also said that driver blamed the accident on the ‘blind zone’ created by a bus that had stopped in front of the microbus.