National
Student dies in wall collapse
A student died and 13 others sustained injuries after a retaining wall collapsed and struck a school building at Chhorepatan in Pokhara on Thursday.
Lal Prasad Sharma & Shiva Sharma
The tin-roof building of Ex-Army Public Higher Secondary School was buried under the retaining wall. Police identified the victim as 14-year-old ninth grader Sanjaya Gayak.
Even though Gayak was immediately rescued, he was pronounced dead at arrival by the hospital. Superintendent of Police Hari Bahadur Pal said eight other students and five teachers were also injured. They are undergoing treatment in various hospitals.
Students were giving their first terminal exam when the 50-metre long retaining wall made by SOS School behind Ex-Army Public Higher Secondary School struck the five-room hut.
Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and locals immediately rescued the victims using dozers.
“The examination of lower secondary and secondary was going on. The wall collapsed just five minutes before the exam was over. Most of the examinees had already left the hall so they survived,” said school principal Rishiram Baral.
Sinkholes appear in Pokhara
Sinkholes have appeared due to torrential rain activities in several places in Pokhara.
A five-feet deep sinkhole was formed in a land belonging to Sabita Raj at Nadipur area on Wednesday night, while Gita Khadka’s house is also at risk. According to locals, sinkholes also appeared in Chauthe, Bindyabasini, Shitaladevi, Phirke, Bajhapatan and Simalchaur due to the heavy rain.
Pokhara received 305.4 mm rainfall within the past 24 hours. The Regional Office of Meteorology Department said it was the heaviest rainfall in Pokhara this year. Pokhara receives the highest amount of rainfall in the country.