National
18 dead, 16 injured in mini-truck plunge
At least 18 people died when a mini-truck swerved off the road and fell some 400 metres at Ghyangphedi in Dupcheshwor Rural Municipality-1, Nuwakot, on Friday evening. Sixteen others were injured, some critically, in the tragedy.Krishna Thapa
At least 18 people died when a mini-truck swerved off the road and fell some 400 metres at Ghyangphedi in Dupcheshwor Rural Municipality-1, Nuwakot, on Friday evening. Sixteen others were injured, some critically, in the tragedy.
According to Assistant Sub-inspector Gyan Lal Yadav, the vehicle (Ba 3 Kha 3913) was headed for Sisipu from Simtang. The incident took place while the residents of Sisipu were returning home after performing Ghewa (death ritual) of a villager, said police. It is still not clear how many people were on board when the tragedy struck.
Personnel from Nepal Army, Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force reached the incident site and rescued the victims with the help of locals.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Bhim Lal Bhattarai said the rescue efforts were hampered by darkness.
Seven of the injured were taken to Kathmandu while others are receiving care at local health facilities.
The accident site is about 40km north-east of Bidur, the district headquarters of Nuwakot.