Road accidents leaves 10 dead in 18 days in Sarlahi

By Our Correspondent,Sarlahi, June 6: Sarlahi district has, of late, witnessed an alarming spike in fatal road accidents, with 10 deaths in the last 18 days. 

All incidents have occurred along the blacktopped roads, raising concerns over vehicular safety and driver negligence. In the latest accident a motorcyclist was killed after being hit by a container truck on the Bagmati Bridge, located on the East-West Highway at the border of Sarlahi and Rautahat districts on Wednesday night. 

The accident occurred on the Sarlahi side of the bridge in Bagmati Municipality-11. The deceased has been identified as 21-year-old Gopal Yonjan from Paurahi, Chandrapur Municipality-1, Rautahat.

According to Police Inspector Kishor Tamang of the Area Police Office, Harion, the incident took place at around 9:00 pm on Wednesday night. Yonjan was returning home from Karmaiya, Sarlahi on his motorcycle (Province 3-02-014P 9877) when he was struck by an oncoming container truck (Province 3-03-001K 0070) heading towards the east.

The truck driver, 38-year-old Om Bahadur Lo Lama of Bhimphedi Rural Municipality-5, Makwanpur, has been taken into custody.

The series of fatal road accidents began on May 19, when a passenger vehicle (Na 1 Ja 2645) parked in Ranigunj, Lalbandi Municipality–17, was struck by a speeding bus (Na 6 Kha 7227). The collision killed 22-year-old Sona Panta of the same area on the spot and left nine others injured.

A day later, on May 20, a head-on collision between two motorcycles in Jirayath Bazaar, Bagmati Municipality–4, claimed the lives of both riders -- 23-year-old Nagendra Sah Sonar of Bishunpura, Rautahat, and 30-year-old Bibek Manandhar of Basantapur, Kathmandu. 

Two women riding pillion sustained serious injuries and are currently undergoing treatment in Birgunj.

According to Inspector Kishor Tamang of the Harion Area Police Office, preliminary investigations showed loss of control due to excessive speed as the primary cause of the motorcycle crash.

On May 22, a car (BR 06 AE 9668) hit and killed 70-year-old Hasina Khatun in front of Kushum Party Palace, Malangawa–8. Just two days later, on May 24, a tipper (Na 7 Kha 6391) rammed into a motorcycle (Ba 66 Pa 8460) at Pani Tanki Chok, Bagmati–1, killing the 21-year-old rider, Mohammad Kaif Mikrani of Malangawa–10, and injuring the pillion passenger.

CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts suggested that the tipper was driven recklessly on the wrong side of the road. 

Student leader Samim Babu Pathan has publicly demanded strict legal action against the driver and called for an end to the growing menace of tipper-related accidents.

Inspector Tamang said the police have obtained the video evidence and are pursuing strong legal action under multiple sections of the traffic law.

On May 25, another tragic accident occurred in Manatole, Basbariya Rural Municipality–6, where a tractor (Ja 1 Ta 9564) fatally struck 65-year-old Amiri Paswan while reversing in his yard.

The deadliest day came on May 28, with three separate fatal incidents claiming the lives of a child, a police officer, and a young man. At Phooljor Chok, Ishwarpur–5, a police officer, Min Bahadur Dani (30), deployed as a bodyguard for a Muslim Commission member, died on the spot after crashing into a tipper (Na 1 Kha 8520) while riding his motorcycle at high speed.

The same day in Solti, Bagmati–8, a tractor (Na 2 Ta 287) struck and killed four-year-old Pranisha Bista. Ward Chair Dambar Bahadur Karki confirmed the tractor was driven recklessly by an 18-year-old boy.

Meanwhile, in Kattani, Barhathwa–16, a motorcycle (Na 46 Pa 2820) plunged off a canal-side bridge, killing 35-year-old rider Ghanshyam Ray of Malangawa–4.

Rajesh Ghimire, Chief of the District Traffic Police Office in Nawalpur, Sarlahi, attributes the majority of recent accidents to reckless driving and over-speeding. While traffic police are working to the best of their capacity, the lack of manpower, particularly on inner roads, remains a significant hurdle.

“Drivers must exercise caution, as accidents can result in serious injuries, disability, or even death,” said Inspector Ghimire. He also emphasised the need for proactive engagement from local governments in road safety initiatives.

Ghimire added that discussions are underway to install speed breakers and dividers and to conduct awareness programmes in coordination with local bodies.