SINDHUPALCHOK, Dec 6: Three people, all from the same family, were killed and at least 10 people injured after a bus bound for Katmandu skidded off the road at Phulpingkot along the newly constructed Kote- Dhuskot road section in Sindhupalchowk district on Thursday. The situation of three passengers is said to be critical.
The deceased have been identified as Tekendra Gurung, 30, of Okhreni village of Fulpingkot VDC-9, his wife Sarkini Gurung, 28, and their three-year-old son Kanchha Gurung.
Tekendra was living in India for a long time. He had come to Nepal for Dashain festival and was on his way to the district headquarters Chautara to make citizenship card. According to police, all of them died on the spot after the bus (Ba 2 Kha 6579) plunged 200 meter from the road. Three passengers along with the driver jumped out of the bus and saved themselves.
The bus with 16 people on board including the bus driver and help had set off for Kathmandu from Dhuskot at five in the morning. However, only after 10 minutes into the journey, the ill-fated bus veered off the road and plunged 200 meters down before a tree blocked it. “More people would have been killed had the bus was not stuck in the tree”, said District Police Chief, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Pratap Kumar Gurung.
According to police, Ashok Lama, 42; Pemsang Tamang, 60; and Kami Sarki Tamang, 51; are in critical condition. They are undergoing treatment at B and B Hospital in Lalitpur. The remaining injured are being treated at Sindhu Sadabahar Community Hospital in Khadichaur in the district.
According to passengers, the accident took place as bus help instead of the driver was behind the wheel in the narrow and newly opened road. “The help was driving the bus. He did keep on driving even though the driver was asking him to let him drive as the hilly road was bumpy and narrow,” said Bala Tamang, one of three passengers who saved themselves by jumping off the bus.
The locals had helped in the rescue operation. Police have arrested driver Mithhu Giri, of Sangachok-8 for further investigations.
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