Six dead in Palpa bus accident identified

KATHMANDU: The identity of six people who died in a bus accident in Palpa on Thursday night has been ascertained.

According to DSP Birendra Thapa of the District Police Office, the victims were Nirmala Ghimire (36) and her daughter Sarumaya (11), Khim Kumari Rana (54), Guna Kumari Gaha (40), Dan Kumari Khatri (21) and Bima Pandey (19). All of the deceased were from Ward-8 of Rainadevi Chhahara Rural Municipality.

Eight others were injured in the accident and are receiving treatment. Twelve of the injured are being treated at the Lumbini Province Hospital, while six have been sent to the Edmond City Hospital in Butwal.

The bus, which was heading to Khursane from Saljhandi, fell 100 meters off the road at Tandi in Rainadevi Chhahara-8 along the Saljhandi-Dhorpatan Road at 10:15 pm on Thursday.

The driver has been taken into police custody for questioning.

PM condoles loss of life

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Friday expressed his deep condolences to the family members of six people who lost their lives. “I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured people. I request all concerned to make public transport safe and dignified,” Dahal wrote in a Twitter post.