Arghakhanchi accident death toll rises to four; all deceased identified

ARGHAKHANCHI: The death toll from Tuesday afternoon’s bus accident in Arghakhanchi district has risen to four. Twenty-seven others were injured in the accident at Kurule in Panini Rural Municipality.

According to Dibas Bahadur GC, the chief of the District Police Office, Arghakhanchi, two passengers died on the spot, while the other two, including the driver, died while undergoing treatment.

Police have identified the deceased as Rammaya Basnet (78) and Bindu Kunwar (78) from Pokhara-19 of Kaski; Kaushila Regmi (50) and Ramesh GC (45) from Modi Rural Municipality-5 of Parbat. Ramesh was driving the bus.

Among the injured, four are reported to be in critical condition. The injured are undergoing treatment at Lumbini Medical College and Bhairahawa Medical College.

Police say most of the passengers on board were residents of Modi Rural Municipality of Parbat district. The bus was carrying pilgrims returning from the Supa Deurali temple in Arghakhanchi.

Preliminary investigation suggests the bus fell 100 meters off the road into a forest after suffering a brake failure.

(RSS)