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Survivors say drunk driver, over-speeding main cause behind Dhading bus accident
At least 31 persons died when a bus they were travelling in plunged into the Trishuli River at Ghatbesi in Dhading district on Saturday morning.Harihar Singh Rathour
At least 31 persons died when a bus they were travelling in plunged into the Trishuli River at Ghatbesi in Dhading district on Saturday morning.
The ill-fated bus was heading towards Kathmandu from Rajbiraj when the tragedy took place at around 5 am today.
The incident occurred due to over-speed, police quoted injured persons as saying.
Bus driver Santosh Chaudhary started driving the vehicle, which was jam packed with passengers, at high speed after having dinner at Chandranigahapur, Rautahat, on Friday night.
It has been learnt that Chaudhary had also consumed alcohol while he was having dinner last night.
According to Manoj Thakur, one of the survivors who is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Gajuri, the driver was driving the vehicle recklessly along the Narayangarh-Muglin road section, where the road widening works are ongoing.
“We were feeling insecure and scared when the vehicle crossed Chapu. Ultimately, the bus met with an accident,” he said, adding, “The bus was at high speed before the tragedy occurred.”
The driver, who had sustained deep cut on his head from the accident, is on the run.
Locals with the help of police personnel rescued 15 passengers who were on the window seats and rushed them to the Primary Health Centre and Hospital in Gajuri.
Police said that two persons, who had managed to save their life by swimming, are yet to come in contact.
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