18 pilgrims killed in tractor accident

Kathmandu, November 10, 2011 - Eighteen people were  killed and over two dozen injured when a tractor carrying pilgrims skidded off the road and plunged into a canal at Barouli VDC-2 of Sunsari district on Thursday morning.

The tractor (Ja 1 Ta 4553) heading for Barahchhetra, a famous holy site in Sunsari distric, from Dhanusha overturned and tumbled into the main canal of Sunsari-Morang Irrigation project at around 5 this morning.

According to police, 17 people were squeezed by a trolley. Among the deceased, 16 have been identified as female and two male. All of them were the residents of Tarapatti, Sirsiya-4, Dhanusha. They were on pilgrimage to Barahchhetra.

The deceased have been identified as Dharmaraj Yadav, Maturiya Devi Yadav, Paro Devi Yadav, Rita Devi Yadav, Kumar Devi Yadav, Sumindra Mukhiya, Sumitra Yadav, Ambika Kumari Yadav, Bhuli Devi Yadav, Ful Kumari Yadav, Kumari Yadav, among others.

Among the injured, 19 have been receiving medical attention at the Inaruwa hospital and other five at BP Koirala Institute of Medical Sciences, Dharan.

The police have said the tractor might have been met with the accident due overload and uneven road.

Meanwhile, investigation into the accident is underway.

Personnel from Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police, have been deployed in the accident site.  

No comments: