The death toll in an microbus crash in Chisapanigadhi, Bhimphedi Rural Municipality-6 of Makawanpur district, has risen to 13, with 11 of the victims identified.
According to the District Police Office, Makawanpur, those identified include the driver, 30-year-old Rabishankar Kumar Mandal of Kabilasi Rural Municipality-8 in Sarlahi, and 10 residents of Sundarpur Tole in Chakraghatta Rural Municipality-4 of the same district.
The other victims from Sundarpur Tole have been identified as Bikesh Yadav, 26; Punam Yadav, 35; Diksha Yadav, 7; Dipika Yadav, 5; Anukumari Yadav, 10; Guddu Yadav, 35; Gayatri Devi, 30; Ramdular Yadav, 25; Subodh Yadav, 25; and Rohan Yadav, 15.
Six people were injured in the accident. Three of them, Mukesh Yadav, 34; Saksham Kumar Yadav, 5; and Devendra Rai, 26, have been discharged after treatment.
Three others remain under treatment. Sujan Yadav, 3, and Sudip Yadav, 14 months, have been referred to Mediciti Hospital in Kathmandu for further treatment. Another injured passenger, 31-year-old Devendra Rai, also known as Bechu, has been referred to Manakamana Hospital in Bharatpur, police said.
The electric minibus was travelling from Kathmandu to Sarlahi when it plunged off the road at Chisapanigadhi along the Bhimphedi-Kulekhani-Kathmandu road section at around 5:45 am on Thursday. Initial reports said 14 people, including the driver, were aboard.
Teams from Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and the Nepali Army were deployed for rescue operations immediately after the accident. Police said further search and rescue operations were also conducted at the crash site.
Subash Bidari is the Makwanpur correspondent for Kantipur Publications.
