The final rites of 27 people who were killed in a bus accident in Kavre district on Monday were performed in Kathmandu and Ramechhap on Wednesday in a grim reminder of the dangers of road travel in the country and how old and unmaintained public buses, poor road conditions and bus operators’ blasé attitude about passenger safety have been claiming innocent people’s lives.

On Monday, a 35-seater bus carrying around 90 passengers veered off the road at Birtadeurali VDC in Kavre, killing 27 and injuring 43 others, in one of the deadliest road accidents in recent years. Most of the victims were quake survivors who were heading for home to sign the housing reconstruction agreement, based on which the government has promised Rs 200,000 in grant to build houses.

Relatives of the accident victims had received the bodies only after they were assured of compensation and the Araniko Transport Service Committee, the operator of the ill-fated bus, pledged to provide Rs 100,000 each as funeral expenses.

Final rites of 18 victims were performed at Pashupati Aryaghat in Kathmandu where relatives and friends broke down in tears as the funeral pyres gave off smoke. Final rights of those who followed Buddhism and Christianity were held at Swoyambhu and Dhapasi.

Bikram Das Damai of Kattikedeurali-7, who lost his four family members in fatal accident, said he decided to perform their final rites at Pashupati Aryaghat in Kathmandu as he did not have money to take the bodies to his village.

According to a report prepared by traffic police, 90 percent of road accidents occur due to syndicate.