Nepal bus crash that left at least two dead sparks violent riot

Updated

A bus crash in Nepal that killed at least two people and injured dozens of others has sparked a violent riot, with police firing tear gas at villagers who rallied together to demand better bus services.

The local bus was en route from Pharping, in the Dakshinkali municipality, to Kathmandu at 8:00am (local time) on Thursday when the front left tyre burst and the vehicle crashed in Bhanjyang.

The bus, which was more than 20 years old, was overloaded and did not have enough seats to cater for the 45 passengers, police said.

Police have identified the dead as Manju Basnet, 42, and Sunil Shrestha, 25, according to the Kathmandu Post.

Metropolitan Traffic Police Division spokesman Umesh Ranjitkar told the Post Ms Basnet and Mr Shrestha died on the way to Vayodha Hospital in Balkhu.

Hundreds of locals spent the day gathered near the wrecked bus, some attempting to block the road in protest, and calling on the local municipality to supply new buses.

This is the 21st century but we have a '90s bus and the people are unhappy," local Prashant Khatri said.

"The injured people's parents and relatives are demanding a new road committee, a new bus committee, and new buses."

The scene became violent at about 4:00pm when dozens of riot police from Kathmandu formed a human wall and marched into the villagers, attempting to force them away from the bus.

Some of the villagers pushed back and threw stones, while others retreated to their homes.

Shots echoed through the valley as police fired tear gas and hit the villagers with batons, with the commotion continuing until nightfall when the area fell silent.

Neydo Hotel overlooks the scene of the crash, and housekeeper Jyanti KC was one of many grieving the locals lost.

"The road is bad, the bus is old and there's too many people on the bus," she said.

"Manju Basnet was my relative. She was a good person with a good job and a nice face.

"Sunil Shrestha was a single father, so his child is now left without parents."

Dakshinkali Municipality Mayor Mohan Basnet told the Post that although traffic police claimed the accident was caused by technical problems, the "rough road" was another reason for the crash.

"We are aware of the problem," he said.

"We have repeatedly requested the Department of Road to repair the road, but they have taken no action so far."

Topics: disasters-and-accidents, accidents, death, road, nepal, asia

First posted
An overloaded bus explodes a tyre and crashes near Bhanjyang, Nepal, killing at least two people and wounding dozens of others. A riot follows.