Chitwan, November 24, 2005

Five people were killed and 36 others injured in different road accidents in Chitwan district and one in Nawalparasi district today. According to District Police Office (DPO) Chitwan, four people were killed and six injured when two trucks collided head-on at Kurintar along the Prithvi highway this morning. Prem Bahadur Gharti, who had reached on the spot said, “The accident occurred when brakes of one of the trucks failed.” Two people were killed on the spot and two others were died while being taking to the Bharatpur Hospital. A truck (Na 2 Kha 9493), loaded with goats and bound for Kathmandu from Nepalgunj collided with another truck (Lu 1 Kha 389), loaded with gas cylinders, heading for Bhairahawa from Kathmandu. Some 118 of the 261 goats were safe while gas cylinders laid scattered on the road. In another incident, one person was killed and 26 others injured when a bus and a truck met with an accident near Tikauli of Ratna Nagar municipality this morning. The mishap occurred when a passenger bus (Na 2 Kha 1681) bound for Kathmandu and a truck (Na 2 Kha 9073) collided with each other, police said. Meanwhile, names of six persons who died in a accident yesterday have been identified today, police said. According to Govinda Puri, inspector and spokesperson of District Police Office, Chitwan, the deceased are identified as Thulimaya Gurung, Lamjung, Yasoda Bista, 21, of Bharatpur municipality-12, and her 15- month-old son, Dipu Gurung of Devghat, Tanahun, Chameli Shrestha of Rani Pokhari-2 and Shalikram Darai, 32.

Freight forwarders to go on indefinite strike from today

Kathmandu, November 24, 2005

Nepal Association of Freight Forwarders (NEFFA) — the umbrella organisation of freight forwarders — announced indefinite strike from tomorrow at the Tribhuvan International Airport Cargo Complex (ACC), protesting Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN)’s move. Namgyal Lama, president of NEFFA, today at a press conference in the capital announced the strike. “All the work will be stopped at the Airport Cargo Complex (ACC) until CAAN meets our demands. This is going to affect 40 metric tonnes of cargo being passed from ACC every day,” he said. Lama alleged that the move by the CAAN is not fair as they plan to install their own men. “In the name of security, CAAN is re-issuing identity cards to the loaders who are hired by NEFFA and employ their own men.” “For the past five years since the ACC has been operational, not a single accident has happened,” he said adding that the move to control loaders and freight forwarders is suspicious. He said that one of the staff hired by Quality Freight was beaten up yesterday by a gang of contractors, who are responsible for collecting parking fees in the ACC premises.