27th-03-2012

Seven persons died and 14 others were injured, majority of them critically, in a jeep accident at Rithapata VDC in the district on Monday.

The crowded passenger jeep (Se 1 Ja 351) skidded off the road and plunged some 100 metres at around 2 pm, police said. The ill-fated vehicle was heading to Jhota from Simkhet in the district.

The deceased have been identified as Keshu Rokaya of Chainpur-2, Mekharaj Giri and Gorakh Giri of Bhairabnath-1, Amala Devi Japrel and Daman Japrel of Sainpasela-2, Jenesh Khadka of Rithapata-6 and Police Sub-inspector Deve Dutta Bhatta of Baitadi district.

According to District Police Office, Bajhang, three of them died on the spot while the others succumbed to their injuries during treatment.

The injured, including the driver, are undergoing treatment at Bajhang District Hospital. Dr Bikalpa Pokharel at the hospital said that eight of the injured are in critical condition.

"The jeep was over crowded. I asked them not to ride the vehicle but they turned down my request. The accident occurred as I lost control of the jeep on the narrow graveled road," said driver Ramesh Bhatt from the hospital bed.

Meanwhile, the relatives of the injured resorted to vandalism at District Administration Office (DAO) demanding to airlift the injured to the Capital for treatment. The enraged mob broke window panes and furniture and also torched the detention house. They also uprooted the signboard and tore down the national flag.

Police fired two rounds of bullets in the air and lobbed some tear gas canisters to take the situation under control as the enraged mob tried to torch the government vehicles parked on the premises of the district hospital. Chief District Officer Shiva Prasad Nepal could not be reached for comments.

Kantipur

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