Nine dead in jeep accident

Doti, Aug. 4: At least nine people died and six others sustained injuries when a jeep carrying 15 passengers fell from the road at Gagudako Dhar in Bogatan rural municipality of Doti district Friday.

"The condition of the two injured is critical," said Shiva Bahadur Singh, a police inspector at the District Police Office, Doti. 

The deceased have been identified as Bishnu Bahadur Magar, 35, Bhim Gharti Magar, 55, Budho Gharti Magar, 50, Gorakh Thapa,45, Shasi Ram Bahadur Pun Magar, 48, Lalita Devi Pun, 45, Tek Bahadur Pun Magar, 40, Chandra Bahadur Gharti Magar, 30 and jeep driver Krishna Bahadur Negi – 28.

All of them had breathed their last on the spot.

The driver hailed from Shikhar municipality - 1, Kapalleki while the rest of the eight were from Bogatan -1, Simchaur.

The entire village has sunk into grief after losing eight villagers in a tragic incident.

The locals said that the jeep, with the number plate Se 1 Ja 491, veered off about 400 metres from the road at around 10 pm.

However, it is yet to be confirmed the cause of the mishap.

According to Singh, the accident might have happened due to slippery road caused by rainfall or low visibility.

As the location was far away from the district headquarters and continuous rain obstructed the vehicular mobility on the dirt road, the rescue operations were  delayed.

The accident spot is about 5-hour drive from the district headquarters.

A jeep sent for the rescue operation had been stuck at Dr. KI Singh rural municipality- 1, Ghyadikhola due to landslides.  

President of the association, Ganesh Bahadur Malasi, said that although the organisation had urged the vehicle owners and drivers not to operate passenger vehicles on the ungravelled  road during the rainy season about three weeks ago, they defied the request.

As a result, the mishap took place.