Surkhet accident update: Death toll climbs to four

Surkhet, November 8 — Four people were killed and 30 others injured in a tragic accident at Ratanangla, on the Dailkeh–Surkhet border, at 2:20 PM on Friday. The incident occurred when a bus (number 0200 Kha 0998) traveling from Dailkeh to Surkhet crashed near Ratanangla, Ward 14 of Birendranagar Municipality.

According to Surkhet Police, the deceased include an unidentified man estimated to be around 40 years old, another unidentified man around 32–33 years old, a woman around 17–18 years old, and another woman around 22–23 years old. Their identities have not been revealed yet.

The doctors at the Provincial Hospital in Surkhet declared the victims dead.

Inspector Wokil Sunar from the District Traffic Office in Surkhet mentioned that there were 34 people in the vehicle, which has a seating capacity of 18. The vehicle, carrying passengers including children, was struck by a Scorpio coming from the opposite direction. As a result, the vehicle lost control and fell into a ravine about 2 meters off the road.

Among the injured, 28-year-old Chandra Malla from Narayan Municipality-4, Dailkeh, 28-year-old Jagat Kumari Bista from Bhairabi Rural Municipality-3, and her 2-year-old son Smile Acharya, and 6-year-old daughter Smarika Acharya, were reported.

Additionally, 12-year-old Rajan Thapa, 21-year-old Prakash Bista, 26-year-old Chandra Rawat from Dullu Municipality-12, and her 7-year-old son Sandip Rawat, 22-year-old Samjhana Bhandari from Bhairabi Rural Municipality-1, and her 18-month-old son Unik Bista were also injured.

Other injured include 10-year-old Chandra Rawat, 19-year-old Sujata Rawat from Dullu Municipality, 9-year-old Bihani, and a 15-month-old girl (identity unknown).

Additionally, 34-year-old Krishna Thapa from Birendranagar Municipality-8, her 4-year-old son Rajan Thapa, and 11-year-old daughter, 18-year-old Tulsi Thapa from Bhairabi Municipality-1, 23-year-old Lal Kumari Bista, 22-year-old Pushpa Khadka, 25-year-old Balram Regmi from Narayan Municipality-4, 25-year-old Sobhan Shahi from Mahabu Rural Municipality-3, 17-year-old Ghanshyam Bista from Bhairabi Rural Municipality-2, 20-year-old Prakash Budha from Mahabu Rural Municipality-20, and 31-year-old Rama Bista from Bhairabi Municipality-1 are among the injured.

Other injured victims include 20-year-old Kamala Bist, 16-year-old Hari Rawal from Mahabu Rural Municipality-3, 27-year-old Sujata Khatri from Bhairabi Rural Municipality-1, 21-year-old Saugat Malla from Birendranagar Municipality-3, and 30-year-old Kamal Nepali from Bhairabi Rural Municipality-5 in Dailkeh.