Jajarkot, March 9: At least 25 people were killed and 41 others injured in a road accident occurred in Jajarkot district on Thursday.
Of the deceased, the identities of the 15 have been established till now.
They are Ganesh Bohara and Nadil Chand of Bheri Malika Municipality-4, Shant Sunar of Bheri Malika-3, Gopal Sunar, Bahadur Bhandari and Sharmila Sunar of Bheri Malika-11, Dil Bahadur Budha of Dasera-1, Madan Pun of Sima-9 in the district.
Similarly, the other deceased have been identified as Ram Bahadur Basnet of Lahan-4, Santosh Chand of Bheri Malika-10, Nanda Lal Jaisi of Salm-5, Maniram Jaisi of Dasera-2, Naine Damai of Pajaru-8, Dale Tiruwa of Majakot-7 and Krishna Bahadur Giri of Rukum Chaur Jahari in the district.
Other deceased are yet to be identified, according to police.
The incident took place when a bus (Na 3 Kha 2279) heading towards Khara from the district headquarters Khalanga fell some 400 meters off the road at Bheri Malika Municipality-4 in the district, said police.
However, the Ministry of Home Affairs has stated the number of deceased to be 23 and injured as 27 in the same incident.
Night vision helicopter used for rescue
Meanwhile, the rescue operation was conducted at the accident site using night vision helicopter immediately after the instruction of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bimalendra Nidhi, according to the Spokesperson at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), Bal Krishna Panthi.
The MoHA, expressing deep sorrow over the incident, has extended condolences to those killed in the incident and has wished for the speedy recovery of the injured ones.
The injured ones are receiving treatment at the Jajarkot District Hospital. They say that although 43 passengers were said to be in the bus, the injured ones claimed there were more passengers.
One among the injured, Bina Kumari Khatri of Karki Gaun-3, shared that three passengers were be seated in a single seat from the Khalanga. The driver’s help had warned the passengers not to mention it to the police.
Another injured Tikaram Rawat, also secretary at the Rokaya Gaun VDC, claimed that the bus, crammed with passengers, was at a high speed.
