The local administration on Tuesday imposed a curfew in Panauti following the locals’ protest over the death of a mother-daughter duo in a tipper truck hit on Monday.

According to the police, 26-year-old Junimaya Tamang and her three-year-old daughter Smarika died after getting hit by the vehicle heading towards Banepa from Panauti Bus Park.

Several areas in Panauti, including the bus park, remained tense on Monday evening, as locals and relatives of the victims clashed with the police demanding action against the driver.

“The local administration imposed the curfew from 9 in the morning till 8 pm,” said Chief District Officer Shravan Kumar Timalsina.

During Monday’s protests, police used tear gas shells and opened fire in the air to disperse the mob. Six police personnel and three locals were injured in the clash.

Tamang, principal of Kalika Primary School at Khanilkhola Ward No. 1, along with her daughter, was heading to Banepa for a health check-up when the accident took place.

“The tipper first struck Smarika,” said Jagat, Junimaya’s father who was on the other side of the road when the accident took place. “The truck hit my daughter as she was trying to save Smarika. I lost my daughter and grandchild right before my eyes.”

The seriously injured mother and daughter were taken to Scheer Memorial Hospital in Banepa, where they were declared dead on arrival. The bodies of the mother and daughter were handed over to their relatives after conducting post-mortem.

Meanwhile, the police said they have impounded the vehicle and taken the driver, who has been identified as Nawaraj Thapa of Roshi Rural Municipality in Kavre, in custody.

“The driver must be punished as per the law,” said Peshal Bholen, Tamang’s brother-in-law.

“A case has been filed against the driver under the event of death as per Article 161(1) of the Motor Vehicles and Transport Management Act,” said Inspector Yogendra Timalsina of the Area Police Office in Banepa.

In the current fiscal year, Kavre has recorded 91 accidents, out of which 18 were related to tippers.

“Eight persons have lost their lives in tipper-related accidents in the district this fiscal year,” said Inspector Bishal Tamang of the Kavre District Traffic Police.