National
Mayor’s clumsiness injures five people
Pokhara Mayor Man Bahadur GC had a day to forget on Friday when his clumsiness nearly cost the lives of five people at Firke Khola.Pokhara Mayor Man Bahadur GC had a day to forget on Friday when his clumsiness nearly cost the lives of five people at Firke Khola.
Mayor GC was supposed to perform a ceremonial job of starting an excavator, as instructed by the equipment operator, to mark the start of encroachment clearance drive at Firke Khola on the day. Every thing was going swimmingly until it was time for GC to get onto the loader.
GC pressed the wrong lever and caused the excavator’s bucket to turn and hit the roadside railing. Such was the impact that not only the railing got busted, but a group of bystanders were also flung down nearly 20 metres down the road.
Journalist duo Ranjan Adhikari Chhetri and Sandesh Shrestha were among the five people injured in the accident.
Gauri Poudel, a local woman, was seriously hurt.
She is being treated at Metro City Hospital, while the others returned home after treatment.
Police later said that the accident occurred when Mayor GC accidentally pressed a lever while boarding the excavator.
The city of Pokhara has started the encroachment clearance campaign to conserve Firke Khola,
a small rivulet that is shrinking due to illegal constructions.