Role of traffic police under scrutiny after tragic accident in Bhaktapur claims life – myRepublica

The fatal accident occurred when a truck hit and dragged the scooter, which had been stopped by the traffic police for inspection

KATHMANDU, Aug 15: In a tragic accident in Ghattaghar, Bhaktapur, initially believed to be a woman's death, it has now been confirmed that the death was an unidentified male. The man, whose identity is yet to be revealed, died on the spot when his scooter, which was stopped by the traffic police, was hit and dragged by a truck.

Initially, the body was believed to be that of Sushma Nepali, as claimed by her brother. However, after she contacted the police, it was confirmed that the identity was false. A blue book found at the crime scene suggests that the deceased could be Uttam Koirala. However, the investigation is still ongoing, said DSP Rajan Karki of the Bhaktapur District Police Office.

This tragic accident has once again highlighted the dire state of road safety in Nepal. The incident, which occurred on Thursday afternoon, quickly sparked a public outcry and quickly led to a tense situation.

According to eyewitnesses, the fatal accident occurred when a truck (Na 6 Ka 2173) travelling from Kaushaltar to Gatthaghar collided with a scooter (Ba 39 Pa 8944) which had been stopped by the traffic police for a routine check. The impact was so severe that the truck dragged the scooter and its driver for nearly 100 metres, leaving the victim's body mutilated beyond recognition. The harrowing scene left passersby in a state of shock and angry onlookers resorted to vandalism and arson.

The truck driver fled the scene after the collision. After the collision, an angry crowd gathered at the scene and directed their anger at the truck and the police who had conducted the check haphazardly. To bring the situation under control, the police fired tear gas shells. Protesters damaged the vehicle and pelted stones demanding justice and accountability for the tragic loss of life.

The resulting chaos led to a complete traffic jam on the busy Bhaktapur-Koteshwar and Sanothimi-Jadibuti-Pepsicola roads for several hours.

Three hours after the incident, the police picked up the body and sent it to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj for post-mortem. The identity of the deceased was confirmed only after the body was sent for post-mortem.

As tensions escalated after the accident, separate police teams from Bhaktapur and Kathmandu district police and armed police were deployed. A crowd of about 2,000 people also vandalized the traffic island at Gatthaghar Chowk.

This incident is not an isolated one. It highlights the worrying trend of road accidents in Nepal, which often involve heavy vehicles. Statistics show that road accidents have become one of the leading causes of death and injury in the country.

According to the traffic police, the number of road accidents is steadily increasing, with a significant percentage involving trucks and other heavy vehicles. In 2023 alone, over 10,000 road accidents were reported, resulting in more than 2,700 deaths and thousands of injuries.

The situation in Bhaktapur has also brought to the fore the role of traffic police and the effectiveness of current traffic management systems. Questions have been raised about the decision to stop vehicles on busy roads, potentially putting lives at risk.

The idea of ​​banning heavy vehicles from certain urban areas during rush hours to reduce the risk of accidents is also gaining support. Similar measures have been implemented in other countries with positive results, and road safety activists argue that such a ban could help prevent future tragedies like the one in Bhaktapur.

In view of the increasing number of traffic accidents, the government is taking new measures

In response to the increasing number of road accidents, especially involving long-distance bus services, the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a directive to transport operators asking them to implement a number of safety measures.

The new measures include the installation of GPS tracking systems in all vehicles, regular maintenance checks and the gradual phasing out of old and unroadworthy vehicles. The ministry also called for stricter enforcement of traffic rules, including banning driving under the influence of alcohol and requiring intercity buses to have at least two drivers.

The ministry's recommendations follow another tragic incident in July when two buses were hit by a landslide on the Narayanghat-Mugling road stretch, resulting in several fatalities. The whereabouts of the two buses and the dozens of passengers on board these ill-fated buses are yet to be ascertained as they were swept away by the swelling Trishuli river.

In addition, the ministry called on transport companies to install video surveillance cameras and transponders.

A five-member task force headed by Chhabi Rijal, deputy secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, investigated the incident and highlighted the need for better safety standards and infrastructure improvements on Nepal's roads. The task force submitted its report with recommendations to Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak last week.