Common cremation of eight dead in Bajhang accident performed

By Shailendra Rokaya

Bajhang, Oct 23 : The cremation of all eight individuals who died in a jeep accident in Bajhang was performed together at Dhaulabagar Ghat nearby the district headquarters Chainpur on Friday. A total of eight individuals, some from the same family, had died in a jeep (Sudurpashchim Province 01-001 Cha 117) accident on October 19 in Ward No. 1 Masta Rural Municipality of the district.

Police said that there were 24 people in the vehicle which was double than its capacity. The passengers were returning from Sildevi fair at Chainpur on the vehicle. 

The jeep fell around 500 metres off the road and got stuck along the hill. The accident left 17 others, including the driver, injured.

The deceased’s families had refused to accept the bodies on Thursday after persisting disagreement on compensation.

As per the prevailing law, Rs. 500,000 is provided as compensation to the family of an individual who died in an accident. Similarly, the burden of treating the injured falls on the vehicle owner.

“The vehicle owner accepted to pay all the insurance amount to the victims’ families and to fulfil all our demands. After the agreement, the bodies were received and taken for cremation,” said Ward No. 1 chairman Ram Chandra Rokaya.

Similarly, Masta’s Chairman Gyan Bahadur Bohora informed that a support of Rs. 1.9 million for the victims was collected from all 11 local levels in the district.

“The local levels have extended economic support to the families as it is a devastating incident in the district. We have provided Rs. 50,000 each for final rituals and Rs. 20,000 to injured individuals,” said Bohora.

The deceased were 13-year-old Samjhana Khadka, 15-year-old Roshan Khadka, 13-year-old Prachanda Khadka, 50-year-old Jharendra Bohora and 50-year-old Sinki Devi Bhandari. 

Similarly, three members of a single family had also died in the accident. They were 38-year-old Birendra Adhikari, his 28-year-old wife Basanti Dhami Kathayat and their seven-month-old daughter Dikshika Kathayat.