Seven persons died and 33 others were injured when a bus met with an accident at Kushma Municipality-1 in Parbat district on Thursday.

The bus (Ga 1 Kha 6108), heading to Narayangadh from Beni, swerved off the road and plunged around 60 metres on the bank of Kaligandaki River. Three persons died on the spot while four others succumbed to injuries at Dhaulagiri Zonal Hospital in Baglung, said police.

Preliminary investigation showed that the bus was overspeeding because the driver wanted to pass the Beteni-Nayapul section of the Pokhara-Baglung road by 10am. Vehicular movements along the Beteni-Nayapul road are halted from 10am to 4pm every day for road upgradation works.

However, driver Ramesh Parajuli, who fractured his backbone in the accident, claimed that the fatal crash took place due to steering wheel lock.  

Police identified the deceased as Amisara Pun, Tika Pariyar and Seti Pariyar from Jaljala Rural Municipality in Parbat, Rajesh Pun and Bishnu Maya Pun from Pakhapani in Myagdi and Shanti KC from Kundule in Baglung. Identity of a man killed in the crash is yet to be ascertained, said police.

The injured were taken to various hospitals in Pokhara and Kathmandu for treatment.

Security personnel from Baglung, Parbat and Myagdi rescued the victims from the incident site.

Laxmi Prasad Bishwokarma, who survived the accident, told the Post that the driver was speeding the vehicle.

“The driver asked the passengers to quickly get on and off the bus so they could cross the Beteni-Nayapul road stretch before 10am. The speeding vehicle hit roadside barriers and somersaulted,” said Bishwokarma.   

One killed, three injured in Phidim road accident

PANCHTHAR: A person died and three others were critically injured in a tractor accident at Phidim in Panchthar district on Wednesday night. Jagat Nepali, 43, of Phidim-2 died in the accident while Bijaya Bardewa, Chhabi Darjee and Umesh Darjee have sustained severe injuries, said police. The injured are undergoing treatment at different hospitals in Jhapa and Biratnagar, said Police Inspector Anil Poudyal. (RSS)