Sindhupalchowk bus accident: Identity of six deceased ascertained

DEATH TOLL REACHES 15

SINDHUPALCHOWK, Dec 15: The identity of six people, who died in a passenger bus accident in Sunkoshi rural municipality -5 of Sindhupalchowk district today morning, has been ascertained, according to the police.

They have been identified as Suk Bahadur Tamang, 28, of Jugal rural municipality, Sindhupalchowk; Sabina Tamang, 7, Junumaya Tamang, 36, and Manju Tamang of Dolakha Bhimerswor municipality; and Mahesh Tamang, 29, and Laxmi Shrestha of Umakunda rural municipality, Ramechhap.

The identity of eight other victims is yet to be ascertained.

The accident took place when the passenger bus Ba 4 Kha 4468, returning from Kuri, Kalinchowk to Bhaktapur, lost control and fell some 100 meters down the road at Six Kilo along the Khadichaur-Jiri road section today morning, according to Sunkoshi rural municipality-6 ward Chair Ram Kumar Thapa.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the accident has climbed to 15. Of them, 13 had died on the spot.

19 people were injured in the accident. They are receiving treatment in various hospitals in Sindhupalchowk, Dhulikhel and Kathmandu.

According to Sindhupalchowk District Police Officer Information Officer Inspector Ganesh Khanal, four to five injured are still in critical condition.

Survivor Dipak Tamang said the accident might have taken place due to the brake failure as “the bus was not overloaded”.

The ill-fated bus used to operate on the Chamasingh area of Bhaktapur.

According to the police, the driver of the bus, who fled the incident site, is still at large.