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)
*****************************

TALLY: 7 killed; 25 injured.

I can give the Commission hundreds of tips on Safety.

TMA,

Thanks for posting the news.

************
That means:

RESULTS so far (since 11 Oct 2004):

(a) DEAD: 36 + 2 = 38 dead, as per these REPORTED highway accidents in Nepal, since 11 Oct, 2004

(b) INJURED: 224 + 41 = 265 plus injured in these REPORTED highway accidents in Nepal since 11 Oct. 2004

(c) TOTAL victims (a + b) = 38 + 265 = 303-plus victims

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

From The Kathmandu Post

Road accident commission in offing


POST REPORT

KATHMANDU, Oct 25 - The government will be forming a high level commission to investigate and recommend measures to contain road accidents, which have increased this year. There are also plans to construct a black-topped road at Krishnabhir and ensure hazard-free two-way traffic between Kathmandu and Pokhara by next year.
"Within two weeks, a high level commission will be formed to investigate road accidents and recommend measures to contain them," said Urba Dutta Panta, state minister for Labor and Transport Management at a program organized by Reporters? Club Nepal here Monday. He was replying to queries raised by reporters on the sudden rise in road traffic accidents during the festive season and the government?s "continued apathy".

Time-consuming security checks, overload, competition between entrepreneurs, bad condition of roads, drunken driving, erotic hoarding boards, lack of vehicle maintenance and failure to enforce rules have been cited as major factors behind traffic accidents.

Experts blamed security checks for delaying vehicles, thereby prompting drivers to speed up so as to reach in time to catch other passengers. There have been reports of security checks on highways, which have held vehicles for hours. They also blamed the government for failing to enforce road transport regulations.

Hom Prasad Adhikari, a transport entrepreneur said, the regulation clearly mentions that no vehicle is allowed to ferry passengers on the roof and take in more passengers than the number of seats, and that traveling without a ticket is illegal but none of these regulations are enforced.

Ganga Ram Khadgi, a driver and leader of Nepal Drivers? Union said, though government regulation prohibits a driver from driving more than 200 kilometers continuously, it has not been enforced so far. The same driver is on the wheel, say from Kathmandu to Kakarbhitta, which is about 600-km apart.

"Nobody monitors whether there is the mandatory additional driver for long route buses," he said.

He also pointed out roadside wine shops, "attractive" pictures of models on hoarding boards in place of traffic signs on the highways, and women acquaintances sitting next to a driver as distracting factors .

Bishnu Siwakoti, former president of the Federation of Nepalese Transport Entrepreneurs revealed numerous instances, in which transporters had bribed the government agency in order to obtain driving license, route permit and vehicle examination certificate.

Kathmandu, Chitwan, Dhading, Lalitpur, Jhapa, Nawalparasi, Banke, Kailali, Dang and Rupandehi are accidents-prone zones, according to Sunil Poudel, engineer at the Department of Roads.

He said that every year about 900 people die in road accidents and about 4,000 are injured. He added that trucks and tankers account for 39 percent of traffic hazards on national highways.

i dont know how relevant is this news on this post, but just doing some contribution..


Source : Nepalnews.com

Traffic resumes along Bhim Dutta highway

Traffic has resumed along Bhim Dutta highway-- that connects Dhandgadhi and Dadeldhura in the far-western region -- from Tuesday, the state-owned Radio Nepal said.

According to the news report, security forces cleared the road with the help of local people that remained blocked for the last three days. The rebels had blocked the road by cutting huge logs of trees at the Goganpani- Gaira section of the road to enforce their week-long blockade of Dadeldhura district since Sunday.

Thousands of commuters who were visiting their houses on the occasion of Dashain had been stranded due to the blockade.

One of the modus operandi of the rebels has been to cut off trees to restrict movement along highways or disrupt movement of troops as and when they plan major offensive in the region.

There hasn't been any major study of environmental destruction in the
country due to the nine-year-old insurgency, reports said. Nepalnews.com by Oct 27 04

Another one:

46 injured in bus accidents


KOL Report

KATHMANDU, Oct 27 - At least 46 people were injured in two separate road accidents on Wednesday.

According to reports, 25 people were injured ? two of them seriously, when a passenger bus bound to Kathmandu from Panauti of Kavre district overturned at Jagate of Bhaktapur along Arniko Highway at around 3:45 this afternoon.

Among the injured, 19 are undergoing treatments at Bhaktapur Hospital while the remaining passengers have retuned home.

Similarly, 21 passengers were injured when a bus heading towards Kathmandu from Bhairahawa met with an accident at Parsyauni of Nawalparasi district along Mahendra Highway today morning.

District Police Office in Nawalparasi said two of the injured are in serious condition. (dds)
***********************

RESULTS so far (since 11 Oct 2004):

(a) DEAD: 36 + 2 = 38 dead, as per these REPORTED highway accidents in Nepal, since 11 Oct, 2004

(b) INJURED: 265 + 46 = 311-plus injured in these REPORTED highway accidents in Nepal since 11 Oct. 2004

(c) TOTAL victims (a + b) = 38 + 311 = 349-plus

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

Killer Highways

From The Nepali Times (# 218. Oct 15-21, 2004)

Over 50 people have been killed in bus accidents along Nepal?s highways between September and October. More than 100 passengers were injured and hospitalised. One of the worst incidents was on 13 September when a passenger bus skidded off into the river at Bhyaple Pokhara-Baglung Highway. According to an American research report, ?The Causes of Bus Accidents in Five Emerging Nations?, Nepal has one of the world?s highest rates of accidents, mainly caused by drunken driving, poor road and vehicle conditions and driver fatigue

20 people injured in separate accidents

KOL Report

KATHMANDU, Oct 28 - At least 20 people were injured in two separate bus accidents on Thursday. According to our Dharan correspondent, 14 people were injured when a passenger bus skidded off the road at Bhedetar VDC along the Dharan-Dhankuta road section on Koshi Highway at round 1pm this afternoon.

The reports say the ill-fated bus bound to Bastipur from Dharan met with the accident due to break failure. The conditions of three people were reported to be critical.

Elsewhere, eight people were injured as a bus bound for Tansen of Palpa from Tamghas of Gulmi met with an accident near Ridhi area today.

Of the injured, three are undergoing treatment at Mission Hospital in Tansen, while others are being treated at local sub-health posts in Ridhi added reports. (hbt)
***************************

RESULTS so far (since 11 Oct 2004)

(a) DEAD: 36 + 2 = 38 dead
(b) INJURED: 311 +22 = 333-plus injured
(c) TOTAL victims (a + b) = 38 + 311 = 349-plus
(d) Victims identified by their names: only 4 so far, in these reports.

REVISED:

RESULTS
(since 11 Oct 2004)

(a) DEAD: 36 + 2 = 38 dead
(b) INJURED: 311 +22 = 333-plus injured
(c) TOTAL victims (a + b) = 38 + 333= 371-plus
(d) Victims identified by their names: only 4 so far, in these reports.

Source : nepalnews.com

Two missing, over 40 hurt in separate road mishaps

Two persons went missing and at least 40 persons were injured in two separate road accidents in Chitwan and Ilam districts Friday.

According to reports, a tanker heading for India?s Raxaul from Kathmandu skidded off the road and plunged into Trisuli River at Jalbire along the Mungling-Nayanghat highway Friday. In the accident that took place at around 7:00 p.m., two persons went missing in the river and two others including the driver were seriously injured.

The injured persons have been undergoing treatment in Chitwan.

Separately, in Ilam, a passenger bus on its way to Paanchthar?s Phidim from Jhapa met with an accident at Sripur area this afternoon, injuring at least 38 people. Four of the seriously injured passengers have been taken to Siligudi, India for treatment.

Preliminary investigation revealed that careless driving by a drunken driver led to the accident, reports said. nepalnews.com mbk Oct 29 04

Thanks Confused for posting that.

Here's another

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

2 missing as tanker plunges into Trishuli River

KOL Report

KATHMANDU, Oct 29 - At least two people went missing when a tanker plunged into the Trishuli River at Jalbire along the Mugling-Narayangadh sector of Tribhuvan Highway on Friday morning.

The empty tanker heading towards Raxaul from Kathmandu skidded 200 meter off the road and fell into the river at around 7 this morning, reported Mugling Police quoting the driver.

Two others injured in the incident are undergoing treatment at Bharaptur Hospital.

Over 3 dozen injured in road accidents

Separately, over three-dozen people were injured in two separate road accidents in Ilam district today.

According to our Ilam correspondent, at least three-dozen people were injured when a passenger bus bound to Fidim of Paanchthar from Birtamod of Jhapa met with an accident at Silpur area along Mechi Highway in Ilam this afternoon.

Reports said the heavily drunk driver of the bus was driving at a high-speed before falling 30 meter off the road.

Similarly, six people were injured when a truck heading towards the accident spot to rescue the injured, met with an accident at the same area.

Injured have been rushed to hospitals in Dharan and Siliguri of India. (dds)

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

A letter to the editor of The Kathmandu Post
Published Oct 29
*********************

Why high-level commission ?

- Your editorial on "Road accidents" (October 26) highlights many causes of such accidents and drives home the fact that most of them are preventable, if a sense of responsibility is demonstrated by all drivers, officials and contractors concerned with the construction and maintenance of road and above all, the pedestrians and the community at large.

The problem of drunken drivers is a menace and deserves serious attention with imposition of severe penalty on reckless drivers irrespective of whether they are commoners or the privileged. You have identified many measures that can be implemented and that can reduce accidents considerably.

Nevertheless, you seem to mention the maintenance aspect just in passing. Vehicles with bald tires and uneven, at times incorrect air pressure, can cause fatal skid in wet or slippery bends. With the worn-out brake system in old rattling engine, many a time, the overloaded vehicle is seen speeding up on the highway to overtake, belching thick clouds of smoke containing atmospheric pollutants. It will not be surprising if such vehicles end up in fatal accidents. It is certain that the existing traffic rules and regulations, if implemented strictly and honestly, without fear or favor, would prevent many fatal accidents.

In this connection, a recent report mentioned about setting up of a high-level commission. I wonder why? If it is to ensure prevention of vehicular accidents, why is there delay in strict implementation of the existing provisions without losing any time? If on monitoring, there are stringent issues, which cannot be addressed, there will be justification in setting up a task force, committee or even commission. Otherwise, it may send a wrong message to civic society in that it may be a tactic to make political appointments of the chairperson and members, provide them with maximum perks on government expenses and submit report after many grace periods.

Dr Badri Raj Pande

via e-mail
*****************

2 killed, 16 injured in road accidents


KOL Report

KATHMANDU, Nov 4 - At least two people were killed when a tractor met with an accident at Dhikura VDC-1 in Arghakhanchi district on Thursday morning.
The two were killed on the spot reported our correspondent from Palpa.

Similarly, 16 people were injured, four of them seriously, when a passenger bus bound to Kathmandu from Biratnagar met with an accident at Nijgadh along Mahendra Highway today.

Unified Basecamp of Nijgadh said the accident occurred at 4:15 this morning.

Those injured seriously in the incident have been rushed to Narayani Sub-regional Hospital in Birgunj.

Others have returned home after getting treatment. (dds)

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

Updates coming on Sjha Awareness Corner soon

Incidentally, for what's worth, here's my short piece on highway accidents

-http://www.nepalitimes.com/issue219/strictly_business.htm

Two missing as truck plunges into Trishuli
KOL Report

KATHMANDU, Nov 7 - At least two people have gone missing when a truck plunged into Trishuli River at Jogimara along Pirthvi Highway in Dhading district on Saturday afternoon.
According to our Dhading correspondent the ill-fated truck heading towards Kathmandu from Birgunj veered off the road at Jogimara yesterday.

Those missing in the accident have not been identified yet.

Two others injured in the incident have been brought to Kathmandu for treatment the reports said. (hbt)

Thanks, Urbi for the update.

Sorry that I was doing a fair amount of traveling to reliably check Nepalnews and Kantipuronline.

Anyway, as per this short news item dated Monday, October 25, 2004: "Within two weeks, a high level commission will be formed to investigate road accidents and recommend measures to contain them," said Urba Dutta Panta, state minister for Labor and Transport Management at a program organized by Reporters? Club Nepal here Monday.

Now, it's already the 15th of November. Has such a high-level commission been formed?
It's possible that I might have missed it, but I have not seen any follow-up news related to the formation of such a commission. Is this what typically happens in Nepal? Ministers make public promises that they cannot keep and no one bothers them and that life
goes on as usual?

More later, with updates.

oohi
ashu

Hey Ashu Bro,

haina mritakko sankhya ganera kati baschhau?
Mero Tauko dukhera headache bhayo yaar!

Dada Giri,

I agree with you.

Giving a damn to these highway accidents by keeping tabs on them,
patiently counting the number of reported victims,
helping bring all this into other like-minded Nepalis' attention/awareness and,
hopefully, over time, (though, at this point, I really don't know how exactly) help reduce the number of needless highway accidents in Nepal surely add up to tedious, dull, boring, time-consuming, unglamorous and "bekaar ko tauko dukhai" work.

But that's all right.

On a personal level, this is the kind of "small" work -- the remote POSSIBILITY that someone's life in Nepal may be spared in future because we cared enough now to spend some time to take up this issue -- that really juices me up and gets me going even though the path ahead may be murky and there certainly are no rewards . . . and that's why, it's gratiifying to count on the support of so many from this Sajha community.

Meantime, with the Minister's not naming the high-level commission as of now, the point about counting the victims has become all the more urgent.

I end this posting with the following link to suggest that what we are dealing with a
long-standing problem, which seems to fall into no one's area of concern.

-http://www.transport-links.org/transport_links/filearea/publications/1_557_PA3331_1998.pdf

oohi
ashu

I ofcourse have headache when I see the number going up
but, I appreciate very much for tracking the number of peoples
involved in the road accidents. This tells us how miserable our
roads, drivers and weathers are. How can we get rid (minimize) of
this problem? I want to see this thread to survive as long as the
numbers in these columns remain increasing. I mean to get rid
of this thread, we should do something to stop road accidents.
As normal citizens, you can dedicate part of your time informing
peoples what is going on in our roads? Thats a great job done
by Ashu.

GP

Two killed, six injured in bus accident

At least two persons were killed and six others critically injured when a passenger bus heading towards Birganj from Janakpur met with an accident at Chandranigahapur, Rautahat district, Sunday.

Radio reports said the bus belonging to Baidehi Travels with 14 passengers overturned on the road at around 2.00 p.m., killing two passengers on the spot. The incident occurred as the bus driver tried to let a bicycle pass.

Armed Police Force personnel from a nearby base camp took the injured passengers to Narayani Sub-regional Hospital in Birganj, reports said. nepalnews.com mbk Nov 28 04

you are welcome Ashu ji!

Hatterika,
We must solve this problem before solving Maoists problem.