A devotee fatally injured after getting trapped under the wheel of the chariot being towed during the ongoing Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur died in course of treatment on Sunday night.

Laxmi Prasad Tyati, 45, from Bhatkapur died at the Trauma Centre of Bir Hospital, said Kiran Bajracharya, Superintendent of Police at the Metropolitan Police Range Office, Bhaktapur.

The nine days long Jatra – notorious for clashes among the devotees and deaths under various circumstances in course of the celebration – submerged into frenetic scenes last night. The locals from the upper part of the town located east of the five-storey Nyatapola Temple and those of lower section of the city hurled bricks at each other.

The locals from the two sections of the city started the traditional pulling of God Bhairav's chariot from their respective sides at 5.15 pm at Taumadi square. The locals from the eastern part of the town had been successful to pull the chariot to the Golmadhi street.

The police had placed bars to stop the devotees from pulling the chariot above Kwyache area due to houses damaged during the massive earthquake lining the path and perilously standing with the support of poles. The devotees had barged through the police bars.

The locals started throwing bricks at 9 pm following a dispute on whether to take the chariot again towards Taumadi square or Nasamana area or lay it at rest at Gahahiti neighbourhood for the night. The devotees also pelted bricks at the riot police that intervened to take the situation under control. Eight each police personnel and locals sustained injuries in the clash. The Jatra will continue until April 17. RSS