Key Takeaways:
- Ten people were killed and six injured in a Makwanpur EV crash
- The vehicle was carrying passengers from Kathmandu to Sarlahi for Chhath
- Police identified the driver as Ravi Shankar Kumar Mandal of Sarlahi
- Most passengers were relatives and neighbours from the same community
- Rescue operations and victim identification efforts were continuing
- Police are investigating the cause of the accident
Ten people were killed and six others injured when an electric vehicle carrying passengers home for the Chhath festival plunged off a mountain road in Makwanpur district on Thursday morning, police said.
The vehicle, registered as Madhesh Province 03-001 Ja 0880, was travelling from Kathmandu to Sarlahi when it veered off the Bhimphedi-Kulekhani-Kathmandu road at Chisapani Gadhi in Bhimphedi Rural Municipality-6 at around 5:45am.
Police have identified the driver as Ravi Shankar Kumar Mandal of Kabilasi Municipality-8, Sarlahi. Authorities said the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Madhav Prasad Kafle, the death toll stands at 10, comprising five men, three women and two girls. Police are still working to identify all of the deceased.
One of the survivors, Mukesh Yadav, 33, of Chakraghatta Rural Municipality-4, Sarlahi, said the group had hired the vehicle in Tikathali and departed Kathmandu at around 2am. Most of the passengers were neighbours and relatives travelling home to celebrate Chhath.
Five injured passengers are being treated at Hetauda Hospital. Among them are Yadav and two children from the same locality, Saksham Kumar Yadav, 5, and Sudan Yadav, 3. Police said Yadav and Saksham sustained internal injuries but are in stable condition, while Sudan suffered injuries to his head and face and remains in moderate condition.
Security personnel from Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and the Nepali Army continued rescue and search operations at the accident site throughout the day.
Police said the vehicle fell approximately 500 metres from the road. Earlier preliminary reports had estimated the plunge at around 700 metres.
Meanwhile, Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa expressed grief over the loss of life and extended condolences to the bereaved families, while wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
