At least 11 people, including a child, seven men and three women were killed, and 10 injured after a bus plunged into the Madi river Saturday evening.
The bus (4684), which was heading for Mugling from Pokhara, skidded off the Madi bridge and fell into the river.
Driver Basanta Thapa, who was also injured in the accident, told Republica that he lost control over the bus as he tried to avoid hitting a child on the road.
"I saw a boy crossing the road just ahead of the bus," said Thapa, who has been admitted to Ratna Hari Memorial Hospital in Tahanu for treatment. "I changed the bus´s direction to avoid hitting him but could not save the bus from falling into the river."
Along with Thapa, Suman Shrestha of Tanahu, Suman Shrestha of Syangjha and Pabitra Sapkota of Tanahu have been admitted to the same hospital for treatment. One injured has been rushed to Pokhara.
Others injured, including Bishnu Tahap of Tanahu and Padam Biswokarma of Nawalparasi, are receiving treatment at the district hospital of Tanahu. Some others have already been discharged. The police are yet to ascertain the names and addresses of all the injured.
Sapkota, who is undergoing treatment at Ratna Hari Hospital, said she was drowsing in a seat just next to the driver´s. "I could not understand how the bus slipped off the bridge," said Sapkota. "I regained full consciousness only when I felt the cold water. Then, I somehow swam to the river bank." Sapkota says she survived as the ill-fated bus was not swept away by the river. "The bus got stuck where I fell," says she. "So, I got time to get out of the bus and swam out of the river."
The bus had fallen 25 meters down breaking the railing of the bridge. Eye-witnesses said the bus hung from the railing for a while before falling into the river. According to SP Dev Bahadur Bohara, chief of the District Police Office of Tanahu, the death toll from the accident has reached 11 by Saturday night. "The number could go up," said Bohara.
A joint team of Nepal Army (NA) men, Armed Police Force (APF) soldiers, Nepal Police personnel, assisted by the locals, was deployed to rescue the accident victims from the Madi river. As the river was swollen and muddy, the rescuers found it very difficult to search for the bodies and rescue the injured. According to SP Bohara. The deceased child has been identified as 11-year-old Ayush Thapa. Among the women, the bodies of Tika Maya Ale and Manu Thapa have been identified. Likewise, among the men, Hemraj Shrestha and his father Laxmi Narayan Shrestha have been identified. Hemraj, a former Maoist combatant, was returning home after completing Nepal Army training at Khairenitar of Tanahun.
Saturday 6 July 2013
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=57401
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