Kathmandu, July 14

Despite the government’s restriction on the movement of tippers and cargo trucks in Kathmandu valley, the heavy vehicles continue to unleash terror on bikers and pedestrians.

Three days after Metropolitan Traffic Police Division prescribed the daily time schedule for the movement of such vehicles in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur, a person was killed when a tipper hit the motorcycle she was riding pillion at Solatee Mode today.

The deceased has been identified as Anuja Ghimire, 18, of Chitwan, who had been residing in Kupandole, Lalitpur. Critically injured by the tipper-hit, the teenage girl died while undergoing treatment at Balkhu-based Vayodha Hospitals, police said.

Her brother 26-year-old Anuj Ghimire, the rider, was also injured and is receiving treatment at the health facility. The accident took place at around 1:30pm. Police said the tipper driver was arrested for legal action. It is the second casualty in road accident caused by tipper in Kathmandu in the past five days. Royal Subedi, 18, of Bhaktapur died when a tipper knocked down the motorcycle he was riding pillion in Jadibuti on July 10.

MTPD had enforced a ban on the movement of tippers and cargo trucks in the valley from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon and 3:00pm to 8:00pm with effect from Thursday.

SP Surendra Mainali, MTPD spokesperson, said it was aimed at reducing road accidents caused by cargo trucks and tippers. He informed that MTPD would also implement time card for trucks and tippers plying on the Koteshwor-Jagati stretch from July 17.

Today’s accident involving the tipper had occurred during the time when it was allowed to ply the valley roads. According to statistics released by MTPD, as many as 120 cases of road accidents were recorded during the period of June 15 to July 14, and tippers were involved in 41 of the accidents.

Eight persons have been killed by tipper-hit in the valley in the past one-and-a-half months. Water tankers, cargo trucks and tippers account for nearly 30 per cent of accidents due to negligence, speeding and non-compliance with traffic rules.

Most of the victims include motorcycle and scooter riders, and pedestrian, traffic police said.