14 dead in Bandarjungbhir jeep accident

REPUBLICA

MYAGDI, Oct 5: At least 14 persons died and two more injured when a jeep they were traveling in skidded off the road at Bandarjungbhir near Kavre village of Dana VDC in Myagdi district Tuesday afternoon. Most of the passengers were on a pilgrimage to Muktinath temple.

The accident occurred near Lete VDC in Mustang´s northern border -- 39 km north of Myagdi´s headquarters Beni.

The Ghansa-bound jeep (Dha 1 Ja 49) was on its way from Beni when it veered off the road and got stuck about 60 meters down the Mustang-Beni road section.

The deceased include owner and driver of the jeep Gopal Khorja Pun, 26, of Dana, Myagdi; helper Rabindra Rai (Gymwal) of Suryamati-4, Nuwakot; Prakash Poudel, 21, of Paiyaupata-1, Baglung; his mother Damodari, 60; and Juna Paudel, 45, and Lila Paudel, 40, of the same place.

The others have been identified as Kalshyang Thakali of Tukuche, Mustang; Sim Bahadur Bhujel of Pokhara-18, Bhedifaram, and his wife, whose name has not been revealed; Sabita Baniya also from Pokhara-18 and Alishma Gurung of Lake Side, Pokhara. The identities of three others have not been revealed till late evening.

Totra Bahadur Baniya, 42, of Pokhara-18 is undergoing treatment at the Myagdi Hospital, while Salishma Thakali of Nagdhunga, Pokhara, has been sent to Pokhara for further treatment.

Nepal Army and Nepal Police along with locals rescued the passengers stuck inside the vehicle, Myagdi Police said.

Chief District Officer of Myagdi Ram Bahadur Kurungwang said the accident occurred after the jeep could not accelerate up the slope.

After ferrying participants of Human Rights and Peace Society´s 13th national council to Surkhet, the jeep had reached Myagdi at 11 pm Monday and immediately left for Mustang the next day.

On its way, the vehicle broke down at least three times -- in Syangja, Butwal and Surkhet, passenger Thakur Acharya, who managed to jump off the jeep, said.

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