Dear Sajha friends,

With your cooperation and support, I would like to dedicate this thread ONLY to RECORDING of the news (copy-paste style) related to highway accidents/deaths [in Nepal] that we regularly read on sites such as Nepalnews.com and Kantipuronline.com.

We all know that highway deaths/accidents in Nepal are routinely COMMON yet
so preventable.

To my knowledge, no member of our civil society has ever led a julus, much less done anything, to make our highways safer. No donor agency of any kind funds any
highway-related safety measures. Yet ordinary Nepalis, often anonymous and devoid of any insurance claims, continue to die unnecessarily on our highways, week after week.

But before one gets carried away, first, let's try to establish whether we really have
a serious problem at hand. To do that, as a mere beginning, let's spend the next four months (Oct 11 to Jan 10) to just post news (as it appears on either Nepalnews or Kantipuronline) about such accidents, and keep a running tally on the number of
victims, and, then in January, see what conclusions we can draw for some possible public actions.

*************************
Start date: Oct 11, 2004
End date: Jan 10, 2004

First item:

************************************************
Seven killed, 25 injured in a bus accident
KOL Report

KATHMANDU, Oct 11 - At least seven people were killed and 25 others injured when a passenger bus met with an accident in Tanahun district Monday afternoon.
According to police, the bus bound to Pokhara from Narayanghat fell into Kumle River at Khairenitaar in Tanahun district killing five passengers on the spot this afternoon. Two others died while being rushed to Western Regional Hospital in Pokhara.

The reason behind the accident is not yet known.

Among the dead are five women and two men. Only two of them have been identified so far.

Rescue operation is underway at the accident site.

In a separate incident, a truck carrying Indian pilgrims met with an accident at Manhari along Mahendra Highway, injuring at least 30 people this afternoon.
According to reports, the accident occurred when the truck on its way to Hetauda from Kathmandu tried to overtake a vehicle in the area.

Four of the injured are reported to be critical condition and have been rushed to Bharatpur hospital in Chitwan. (dds)
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TALLY: 7 killed; 25 injured.

DK wrote:

"We can reduce it but cannot eliminate. Actually, it is so easy to analyze and critisize."

**********

This thread is here, with your cooperation, to keep a running public record of highway accidents that take place in Nepal AND that are reported on either Kantipuronline or Nepalnews. [Of course, there may be many other similar accidents do not get reported at all.]

As a concerned citizen, I may have some ideas as to why these highway fatalities
occur in what appears to be with a mind-numbing regularity. Others may have other
ideas about how to make our highways safer.

But for now -- between 11 October 2004 and 10 January 10 -- let's collect quarterly data, and, then let our conclusions and further work be based on what those preliminary data tell us. I have certainly no idea where all these will lead to, except
to hope that, in the short run, more of us become aware of this problem and are sufficiently motivated to do something about it.

Yes, needless highway fatalities is a serious problem in Nepal. But, first, we need to figure out just how serious a problem it is before any of us proposes to do anything concrete to help reduce the number of accidents. And so, this period of patience, data-gathering and collecting news is important to start thinking about the issue more seriously.

Sadly, raw emotions and righteous indignation alone will not help us address this issue.

oohi
ashu

Ashu, I agree we can do our part, it will have its own impact small or big. We can compile the records, comments and suggestions, and taking opportunity of some world trafic day, or day when first highway or first automobile was made to come out with articles on same topic by various writers, to be published in different daily, weekly news papers targetting different audiences both rural and urban.
Focus should also be aimed at incorporating the need of safe traffic rules on the young mind of students. Even if a small section of the society perceives it and have positive change in attitude, the mission is well accomplished.
Here, the old Chinese saying rightly fits " Those who don't belief that something can be achieved, should not stop someone trying to achieve it". Unless it is not...

Here we go, with another piece of taajaa, if gruesome, khabar
October 19, 2004
************

2 killed in bus accident


KOL Report

KATHMANDU, Oct 19 - At least two people were killed and four others injured when a passenger bus bound to Dhangadhi from Kathmandu met with an accident in Kapilvastu district on Tuesday.

According to police, two passengers died on the spot after the bus crashed at Motipur VDC along Mahendra Highway in Kapilvastu this morning.

The accident occurred when the bus was trying to save a buffalo on the highway.

The injured are undergoing treatment at Lumbini Zonal Hospital in Butwal. (dds)
***********************

TALLY: 30 + 2 = 32 dead so far in REPORTED highway accidents since Oct 11, 2004.
INJURED: 104-plus

Names of those dead: Except for one, all ANONYMOUS.

REVISED:

TALLY: 30 + 2 = 32 dead so far in REPORTED highway accidents since Oct 11, 2004.
INJURED: 104 + 4 = 108-plus

Names of those dead: Except for one, all ANONYMOUS.

No accident on Mungling Road over the past week? That is unusual.

KATHMANDU, Oct. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- At least nine persons died on the spot and 50 sustained injuries Monday afternoon when a passenger bus fell off the road in central Nepal, Radio Nepal reported Tuesday.

The Manthali bound bus from Kathmandu with 80 passengers on it fell 150 meters off the road at Lakuridada village of Ramechhap district, some 100 km east of Kathmandu, the state-run radio quoted Manoj Yadav, inspector of the district police office, as saying.

The mishap occurred while the passenger bus was giving side to a microbus, Yadav said.

The 22 injured passengers who were in serious condition have been taken toward Kathmandu, while the other 28 are undergoing treatment at two local hospitals, he added. Enditem

What the hell is going on over there? huh!

3 killed in bus accident in Siraha


KOL Report

KATHMANDU, Oct 21 - At least three people were killed and over a dozen others injured when a passenger bus met with an accident along Mahendra Highway in Siraha district Thursday morning.
The bus bound to Kathmandu from Dharan crashed at Bastipur Chowk of Karjanhuwa VDC in the district at around 7:30 this morning, reported our Siraha correspondent quoting police.

Three passengers were killed on the spot in the incident.

Reports said the accident occurred after the speeding bus lost its control when a group of children tried to cross the highway in the area.

Five of the injured are undergoing treatment at a local hospital. (dds)

Thats Insane, a hundred and twenty people in mere ten days? This is not even a peak monsoon period when there are badhi pahiroos and more accidents and road mishaps or is it a peak period because of Dasai traffic??

Three killed in road mishap in Sarlahi

Three passengers were killed and 12 others injured when a bus heading for Kathmandu from Dharn met with an accident at Bastipur in Sarlahi district on the Mahendra Highway Thursday morning.

Reports said the accident occurred at around 7:30 a.m. when the driver of the bus (Na. 2 Kha 6041) tried to give way to children walking on the highway. Two of the victims have been identified as Ram Kali Shah of Sarlahi district and her daughter Subindar .

Five of 12 injured passengers have been undergoing treatment at a local hospital, reports added. nepalnews.com mbk Oct 21 04

Source: nepalnews.com

Thanks Urbi and Confused for posting the news.

The TALLY (Please note: Though I have been careful NOT to count the figures from the same news from different sources twice, please do check my math
and do prevent me from accidentally double-counting from time to time):

********

RESULTS so far:

(a) DEAD: 32 + 3 = 35 dead, as per these REPORTED highway accidents in Nepal, since 11 Oct, 2004

(b) INJURED: 108 + 12 = 120-plus injured in these REPORTED highway accidents in Nepal since 11 Oct. 2004

(c) TOTAL victims (a + b) = 155-plus

(d) Victims identified by their names: only 3 so far, in these reports.

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Some PRELIMINARY observations based on these reports so far (version 1.0)

1. The names of the bus/truck companies are generally not given in these accident reports. This is odd, considering that most buses/trucks that ply on Nepal's highways are private-sector buses and trucks.

2. Names of the victims (both dead and injured) are usually not given.

3. The injured are counted in "bundles", as shown by this type of a routine sentence . . . "more than a dozen were injured". What does that mean? Were 13 people injured? 15? Such a sentence does not make the number of the injured clear.

4. The degrees of injury are never specified. (Some might have lost their legs; others mights have sustained minor injuries . . and so on)

5. The Xinua report above (posted by Urbi) says that there were "80 passengers" in and on (assuming if you count those passengers who sit on the roof) the bus. Question: 80 people in/on a bus that is speeding on a highway sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

Is there an enforceable law of some sort that says something like you can't have people over this number in a moving bus of this size?

More later;

oohi
ashu

Another one:
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One killed, 56 injured in bus accidents in Bhaktapur

KOL Report

KATHMANDU, Oct 23 - At least one passenger was killed and 56 others injured - 12 of them seriously, in two separate road accidents in Bhaktapur district on Saturday afternoon.

According to Police, a passenger bus heading towards Duwakot of Bhaktapur from Kathmandu met with an accident at Thimi along Arniko Highway at around 3:30 this afternoon.

Reports said the overcrowded bus traveling at a high speed, got out of driver's control and overturned at Thimi.

35-year-old Shyam Kaji Makaju of Bhaktapur was killed while undergoing treatment at Bhaktapur Hospital. 23 others were injured in the incident.

Similarly, 33 passengers were injured when another bus bound to Dadhikot of Bhaktapur from Kathmandu met with an accident at around 4 this afternoon.

Those injured in both the accident are undergoing treatment at Bhaktapur Hospital, B&B Hospital in Patan and Bir Hospital in Kathmandu. (dds)

**************

RESULTS so far:

(a) DEAD: 35 + 1 = 36 dead, as per these REPORTED highway accidents in Nepal, since 11 Oct, 2004

(b) INJURED: 120 + 56 = 176-plus injured in these REPORTED highway accidents in Nepal since 11 Oct. 2004

(c) TOTAL victims (a + b) = 212-plus

(d) Victims identified by their names: only 4 so far, in these reports.

Hare Shiva, pherry arko accident.

Over 40 injured in bus accident
Over 40 people were injured when a passenger bus heading for Ramechhap?s Manthali from Kathmandu slid down the road at Bojh VDC of Dolkha district Sunday afternoon.
Source: Nepalnews.com

RESULTS so far:

(a) DEAD: 35 + 1 = 36 dead, as per these REPORTED highway accidents in Nepal, since 11 Oct, 2004

(b) INJURED: 176 + 40 = 216 plus injured in these REPORTED highway accidents in Nepal since 11 Oct. 2004

(c) TOTAL victims (a + b) = 252 plus

(d) Victims identified by their names: only 4 so far, in these reports.

48 injured in bus accident in Dolakha

KOL Report

KATHMANDU, Oct 24 - At least 48 people were injured - nine of them seriously, when a passenger bus met with an accident in Dolkha district Sunday afternoon.

The bus en route to Manthali of Ramechap from Kathmandu fell 15 meter off the road at Bojh VDC at around 1 this afternoon, reported our Dolakha correspondent.


Those injured seriously in the incident have been brought to Kathmandu for treatment. (dds)
************************************

RESULTS so far:

(a) DEAD: 35 + 1 = 36 dead, as per these REPORTED highway accidents in Nepal, since 11 Oct, 2004

(b) INJURED: 176 + 48 = 224 plus injured in these REPORTED highway accidents in Nepal since 11 Oct. 2004

(c) TOTAL victims (a + b) = 260 plus

(d) Victims identified by their names: only 4 so far, in these reports.

Desh Bhitra ke kam bhako theyo, bidesh ma pane durkhatana hunu parne. Another sad news, Ashuji aba ke garne, you news lai samel karne ke na garne.

Five Nepalis killed in road mishap in Kolkata

Five Nepalis including the Under Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Bishwanath Dhakal were killed in a road accident in the Indian City of Kolkata on Thursday.

A truck smashed into a jeep with 10 Nepalis, the family members and relatives of Under Secretary Dhakal near Hawrah Bridge in Kolkata, a family source said. They were in the pilgrimage in India.

Kirtinath Dhakal, Jagannath Dhakal and Bishnu Maya Paudel and her husband were among the dead in the accident.

The injured have been admitted at the Kolkata Research Center for treatment, the source said. nepalnews.com rh Oct 24 04

Related News
- Over 40 injured in bus accident

KK-ji,

Thanks for that news.
It's very sad.

**********

To keep things simple here, may I propose that that we stick to ONLY Nepalnews.com and Kantipuronline.com for news about such accidents on highways inside Nepal (and outside of the Kathmandu Ringroad)?

Both sites are available to all of us 24/7.

Often, there will be repeat news. But repeat news is OK. For our purposes, we will
be careful not to count the same news from two different sources as two different news.

oohi
ashu

Here is another tragedy:


Five Nepalis including the Under Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Bishwanath Dhakal were killed in a road accident in the Indian City of Kolkata on Thursday.

A truck smashed into a jeep with 10 Nepalis, the family members and relatives of Under Secretary Dhakal near Hawrah Bridge in Kolkata, a family source said. They were in the pilgrimage in India.

Kirtinath Dhakal, Jagannath Dhakal and Bishnu Maya Paudel and her husband were among the dead in the accident.

The injured have been admitted at the Kolkata Research Center for treatment, the source said. nepalnews.com rh Oct 24 04

I have no idea whether this is due to Sajha.com ko direct or indirect influence or just a happy co-incidence (more likely, it's the latter!). But it sure feels good to have the government finally acknowledge the existence of the problem.

Now, let's see whether Mr. Pant delivers on his promise.
Meantime, our count will continue.

oohi
ashu


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Commission to control road accident soon

KOL Report

KATHMANDU, Oct 26 - The government says it will form a high-level commission to investigate and recommend measures to contain road accidents.

There are also plans to construct black-topped roads at Krishnabhir and ensure hassle-free two-way traffic movement between Kathmandu and Pokhara by next year.

Speaking at a program in Kathmandu on Monday, State Minister for Labor and Transport Management, Urba Datta Pant said, "A high-level commission will be formed within two weeks to investigate road accidents and recommend measures to contain them."

He was replying to queries raised by the journalists on the sudden rise of road accidents during festive season.

At least four people were killed and over 100 others injured in road accidents since Saturday. (dds)

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Same news

From Nepalnews.com

***

Commission on road accidents soon

The government is planning to form a high-level commission that will investigate road accidents and suggest measures to contain them.

?The government is going to form a high-level commission within two weeks to investigate road accidents and recommend ways to control them,? said Urba Dutta Panta, state minister for Labor and Transport Management at a program organized by the Reporters Club Nepal on Monday. He said the government was seriously concerned over the recent spate of road accidents.

Panta informed that plans were afoot to build blacktopped road at Krishnabhir of Prithivi Highway where most accidents take place, particularly during rainy season.

Transport entrepreneurs participating at the program blamed the government for not showing concern to growing traffic hazards, mainly during the festival season. They also lamented the hectic security checks along the highways, which rather prompt the drivers to speed up hence increasing the risk of accident.

In Nepal, an estimated 900 people die in road accidents each year and over 4000 sustain injuries. With growing number of vehicles, bad condition of roads and the slack monitoring mechanism of the government, road accidents are growing every single day. nepalnews.com mbk Oct 26 04

Something positive: the setting up of a commision (even though it is evident from earlier experiences, that their reports will gather dust like thousands before it). If this thread and the valuable posting by fellow Sajha mates have any role in its formation, then hats off to Ashu and the team for breaking the ice. However, Sanji is it possible to find out if this thread had any slighest link, or is it a mere coincedence that they waited for Ashuji to set up the commision.
However, Sajhamates it seems our responsibility is increasing as our positive comments and suggestions gets attention. We can and will contribuite efforts to make a change.
Kk