The reckless driving of a Biratnagar-bound bus (Na 4 Kha 5448) belonging to Shuvashree Yatayat cost the lives of 10 people as it hit a Metro Deluxe bus (Na 5 Kha 4841) that was en route to Kathmandu from Ilam, said police. The incident took place at around 2:15am.

Nine among the deceased, mostly college students, were travelling on the Capital-bound bus that fell about 100 metres from the road after the collision.

Superintendent of Police Prakash Jung Karki said the incident occurred due to the sheer negligence of the driver of the Biratnagar-bound bus. “The driver’s side of the Shuvashree bus is completely damaged but the driver remained unhurt, indicating that the driver intentionally hit the Metro Deluxe bus,” said Karki. Shuvashree driver Roshan Tamang, who had fled after the incident, was caught from his relative’s home in the afternoon.

An investigating police officer claimed that Tamang, a resident of Hadikhola in Makwanpur, had been drunk-driving. It was found, he said, that Tamang, a short-tempered driver, had deliberately plunged a truck in the past in a fit of rage.

Kshitijraj Tamata, a passenger on Shuvashree Yatayat, said the bus had hardly avoided hitting a vehicle coming from the opposite direction three times earlier. “Sensing speed, passengers repeatedly urged the driver to drive slow but he would not listen,” he added. According to Tamata, they had heard a dispute between the driver and the bus owner in the driver’s cabin that apparently infuriated Tamang.

“The driver might have drunk alcohol when the vehicle was stopped at Ramnagar in Chitwan for meal,” said Tamata, adding that Tamang drove the vehicle at a higher speed after the break.

Tamang’s Metro counterpart Arbinda Moktan got his leg fractured. Roshan Bhattarai, who survived the accident, said Moktan had been driving the vehicle well.

Police identified the deceased as Roshan Bhattarai, Prabin Acharya, Sujata Kafle, Milan Adhikari, Prijaj Dahal, Rakshya Shrestha, Isha Karki and one Aastha of Ilam. Shanta Luitel of Itahari and Doria Moskova of Russia were killed.

Twelve of the seriously injured were rushed to Bharatpur while the others were taken to Hetauda Hospital.

Police effort to control accidents

KATHMANDU: Nepal Police on Saturday issued a public notice asking people to contact them if they sense negligence on part of bus drivers. People can call the police to lodge complaints at 01-4412780, 01-4411549, 01-4415597, 4412784, 16600141516 (toll-free number) or 100 (police control room). In a statement, the police said people can also ring them on the mobile number 9849091139. Local police stations will handle any untoward situation and allow vehicles to ply the route only after a thorough investigation.