17 killed in Kavre bus accident

KATHMANDU: At least 17 persons died and 22 others were injured in a bus accident at Bethanchok Rural Municipality-4 in Kavre on Tuesday evening.

The incident occurred when the bus (Ba 3 Kha 4385) was returning to Banepa from Chyalti of Banethok after attending a head shaving ceremony.

SP Chakraraj Joshi said that 13 among the deceased have been identified as Nirmala tamang (79), Yogesh Tamang (11), Ankur Tamang (50), Hema Tamang 43), Pushkar Tamang (10), Kopila Tamang (25) and Shreya Tamang (6) of Banepa Municipality-11.

Likewise, other deceased have been identified as Raj Kumar Tamang (39) and Gita Shrestha (28) of Banepa-14, Jelly Tamang (37) of Mandan Deupur Municipality-1, Buddha Tamang (30) of Dhulikhel Municipality-11, and Manju Tamang (32) of Bethanchok Rural Municipality-5.

Similarly, bus driver Santosh Timalsina (22) of Mahakal Municipality-4 in Lalitpur and currently living in Panauti-4 also died in the accident.

SP Joshi added that the identity of four persons, who died in the incident, is yet to ascertained.

According to a preliminary investigation, the tragedy occurred due to over speeding.

Altogether 39 passengers were travelling in the bus.

The injured are receiving treatment at the Scheer Memorial Hospital in Banepa, Dhulikhel Hospital, Madhyapur Thimi Hospital, Bir Hospital, Neuro Hospital in Bansbari and other hospitals, Chief District Officer of Kavre Humkala Pandey said.