Three Missing After Car Plunges into Sunkoshi River in Sindhuli

Kathmandu. Various transport entrepreneurs have stated that the incident where a private car fell into the Sunkoshi River on the Mid-Hilly Highway in Nawalpur, Fikkal Rural Municipality-2, Sindhuli district, has shocked the country's transport sector, with the driver and three others missing. Expressing deep sorrow over the accident, transport sector organizations have jointly urged the government and relevant bodies to prioritize immediate and effective search and rescue operations for the missing persons. Saroj Shitoula, Chairman of the Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs Federation, Dharmaraj Bhandari, Chairman of the Nepal Transport Workers Union, Bhimjawala Rai, Chairman of the Nepal Transport Independent Workers Union, and Deepak KC, Chairman of the All Nepal Transport Workers Union, in a joint statement, urged the mobilization of all necessary resources to make the rescue operation more rapid, effective, and results-oriented. The accident occurred on August 3rd, when a vehicle with registration number Province 3-02-024 Cha 5753 fell into the Sunkoshi River. Among those missing in the accident are 39-year-old driver Dilkumar Lama, a resident of Jugal Rural Municipality-7, Sindhupalchok, 27-year-old Ganesh Thapa, a resident of Golanjor Rural Municipality-1, Sindhuli, and one unidentified helper. The joint statement wished for the safe rescue of all three and drew the special attention of the relevant bodies to ensure no shortcomings in the search efforts. The disruption of traffic services, including the movement between Khotang-Kathmandu, due to the road blockage following the accident, and the obstruction of the Mid-Hilly Highway have also been expressed as concerns. Relevant bodies have been urged to take necessary initiatives, including alternative arrangements, to facilitate the movement of passengers as soon as possible. It has been pointed out that there is a need for the government, security agencies, road construction and maintenance bodies, transport entrepreneurs, workers, and passengers to honestly fulfill their respective responsibilities, conduct a factual investigation into such tragic accidents, prevent the recurrence of road accidents, and jointly commit to the development of a safe transport culture.