Three SEE students burned to death

By Nagendra Kumar Karna

Mahottari, Apr. 8: Three students were burned to death, and three others were injured after two motorcycles collided and caught fire on Tuesday at the border of Jaleshwar Municipality and Ekdara Rural Municipality in Mahottari district. One of the injured is reported to be in critical condition.

According to Superintendent of Police Heramb Sharma of the District Police Office, Mahottari, the accident occurred at Gena Bathnaha in Ward No. 5 of Ekdara Rural Municipality along the Bakhri-Bardibas road section.

The students were returning home after appearing in their SEE examinations when the motorcycles collided, causing a fuel tank explosion and a sudden fire.

The deceased have been identified as Ravi Das, around 20, son of Ramdayal Das of Jaleshwar Municipality-6; Subhash Das, around 20, son of Surendra Das from the same area; and Abhishek Mandal, son of Shatrudhan Mandal of Ekdara Rural Municipality-3.

The injured include Rohit Das, 19, son of Suresh Das of Dhabouli, Jaleshwar-6; Abhay Kapar, 9, son of Lakhindra Kapar from the same locality; and Ajay Kapar, 20, son of Rambaran Kapar of Gena Bathnaha, 

Ekdara-5.

Police said the fire engulfed both motorcycles following the collision, with all three riders on one of the bikes caught in the flames. “Police, a fire engine and ambulances were immediately deployed after receiving information about the incident, and the victims were rushed to the Provincial Hospital in Jaleshwar,” SP Sharma said.

Doctors at the hospital confirmed that the three severely burned students had died on the way. The three injured were given primary treatment and later referred to Janakpur for further care.

Chief District Officer Indradev Yadav, along with security personnel, visited both the accident site and the hospital to take stock of the situation. He said one of the injured is in critical condition, while two are undergoing treatment at Ram Janaki Hospital in Janakpur and another at the Provincial Hospital in Janakpur.

Police said the bodies were initially unrecognisable due to severe burns, and identification was confirmed only after family members arrived. The bodies will be handed over to the families following post-mortem examinations.

Both motorcycles were carrying three riders each and were destroyed in the fire, making it difficult to identify their registration numbers. The vehicles have been taken into custody and kept at the District Police Office, Mahottari.

Locals described the incident as shocking and tragic. Rajan Mandal, a local resident, said he had heard of deaths due to fire in plane crashes but had never witnessed such a horrific incident involving motorcycles.

Following the incident, residents have urged parents to be more responsible. Local youth Sanjeet Pathak called the accident “heartbreaking” and stressed the need for stricter control over allowing minors to use motorcycles and mobile phones. He also called for accountability, suggesting that parents should face action if students are found riding motorcycles.