One dead, 14 injured in Khotang microbus accident

Khotang, Aug 4:  A person died and 14 others were injured when a microbus enroute to Siraha from the Halesi pilgrimage in Khotang met with an accident at Kaduwa along the Jayaram-Halesi road section of the Mid-Hill Highway.

The microbus with registration the number plate (Pradesh 2-0-1-001) met the accident near the Daunde Stream at around 9:00 am today.

The identities of the deceased and the injured are yet to be ascertained. Halesi Tuwachung municipality spokesperson Kamal Giri said the injured were rushed to Ghurmi by ambulance. Among them, six pilgrims were referred to the National Trauma Centre, Kathmandu. The remaining eight are recuperating at the Ghurmi-based Janasewa Polyclinic.

A total of 16 passengers were on board the microbus at the time of the accident, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Prateek Bista of the District Police Office, Khotang.

According to eyewitnesses, the microbus fell some 200 metres off the road. Bushes in the area prevented the vehicle from falling further, according to DSP Bista. 

Further details of the losses are awaited.

The microbus was transporting pilgrims from the Halesi Temple after observing the 'Bolbam', a religious festival held during the month of Saun. Halesi, a famous religious site in eastern hill of Nepal, is considered a confluence of Hindu, Buddhist, and Kirat communities. 

Devotees throng the site throughout the month of Saun to observe the Bolbam festival, often arriving in private or reserved vehicles. (RSS)