Biratnagar, January 28

The Biratnagar-Biratchowk road section in Morang remained tense the entire day today following an accident that claimed a minor in Sundar Haraicha Municipality in the morning.

Eleven-year-old Laxmi Dhakal of Sisaughari died after she was hit by a Biratnagar-bound tipper at Sisughari in Sundar Haraicha Municipality at about 8:45am.

After the accident, irate locals torched seven tippers including the one involved in the accident on the road stretch. They also staged demonstration keeping the body on the road.

In view of the worsening situation, the local administration has enforced an indefinite prohibition order in an area within 1.5 km radius from the accident site from 11:00am today.

Despite the prohibition order, the locals continued obstructing the road stretch for the entire day.

The demonstrators sought stern punishment against the tipper driver involved in the accident, complete ban on the operation of tipper on the road stretch and compensation for the bereaved family.

The girl was hit by the vehicle while she was heading to a shop to buy potato chips for her lunch break at school.

According to locals, the driver had reversed the tipper and run the girl over. The tipper driver was trying to flee the accident site, however, the tipper collided with a tree on the roadside one km away.

Enraged locals torched six other incoming tippers loaded with gravel, besides the tipper that caused the accident.

According to Morang District Police Office SP Manoj KC, six of the total seven torched tippers were completely destroyed. SP KC said the search for the tipper driver was on.

Meanwhile, the victim’s kin agreed to receive the body in the evening following an agreement with the local administration that it would book the driver involved in the accident, impose ban on the operation of tippers and take initiatives for compensation sought by the locals.