Nuwakot accident death toll reaches 20

Nuwakot, December 15

The death toll from yesterday’s accident in Dupcheswor Rural Municipality, Nuwakot, has reached 20.

While 18 persons died on the spot, two others succumbed to their injuries in course of treatment this morning. The accident took place when a mini-truck heading to Sisipu of Ghyangfedi from Simtang with attendees of a post-death ritual fell some 400 metres off a cliff in Ghyangfedi, in Dupcheshwor Rural Municipality-1.

The deceased, including three women, are Sita Tamang (14), Sunashree Tamang (36), Shukaram Tamang (24), Sonam Lama (39), Aita Tamang (44), Selbon Tamang (40), Tokale Tamang (55), Mangale Tamang (22), Khamsung Tamang (60) and Bibhimaya Tamang (27) of Sisipu.

Similarly, Riwal Tamang (32), Laxman Tamang (34), BirBahadur Tamang (46), Krishna Tamang (20), Min Bahadur Tamang (50), Sune Lama (45), Bhim Bahadur Tamang (20), Mingmar Tamang (43), Chhowang Sonam Tamang (37) of Sisipu and Ritesh Pandit of Shikharbesi also died.

“As there are many bodies and the village is quite far from the headquarters, arrangements have been made for post-mortem of bodies in the village by dispatching a team of doctors,” said Chief District Officer Uddhav Bahadur Thapa.

According to DSP Bhimlal Bhattarai of the District Police Office, Nuwakot, 15 persons who were injured in the accident have been sent to Kathmandu for treatment.

“The injured are undergoing treatment at the Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, BP Memorial Hospital and International Friendly Children’s Hospital,” he said, suspecting that the accident on a steep stretch might have been caused by overload. Dupcheshwor Rural Municipality chairperson Yobindrasingh Tamang said the accident had cast a pall of gloom on  Sisipu village.