Bishwanath Thakur, Nepal News Bank
Sarlahi, November 26. The journey of the passengers returning to Sarlahi from Kathmandu with the dream of meeting their families and sharing happiness to celebrate the Chhath festival has come to an end forever with the tragic accident at Bhimphedi in Makwanpur. The entire village is in mourning after 13 people of Chakraghatta Rural Municipality-4, Sundarpur of Sarlahi were killed in the accident.
The accident took place when an electric hi-bus (Madhesh Province 03-001 Ja 008) plunged into a cliff some 500 meters below the road at Chisapani Gadhi in Bhimphedi Rural Municipality-6 of Makwanpur district at 5.5
5 am on Thursday. As many as 14 people including the driver died and six others were injured in the accident.
The atmosphere of celebration has suddenly turned into mourning after the news of the accident spread in Sundarpur village, which was preparing for the Chhath festival. The villagers who were staying in Kathmandu for employment were returning home to celebrate Chhath with their families when the accident took place. The relatives, neighbours and family members of the deceased are in mourning.
According to Nitesh Kumar, a local, the situation in Sundarpur has become very painful after the news of the accident. Relatives are waiting for the body to arrive at home. He said that even when a relative or acquaintance reaches home, the screams of the family members shock the whole village.
The biggest blow due to the accident has been in the family of Nirmala Devi of Sundarpur. 6 members of her family have died in this accident. After the death of her husband Ram Sunar Raya eight years ago, the eldest son Awadhesh Yadav had been supporting the family by selling vegetables in the herbs area of Kathmandu.
On Wednesday night, Awadhesh sent his wife Poonam Yadav, 10-year-old Anu Yadav, seven-year-old Diksha Yadav, five-year-old Deepika Yadav, son Kartik Yadav and brothers Bikesh Yadav, 25, and Sudhesh Yadav, 16, to celebrate the Chhath festival. Awadhesh is safe as he is staying in Kathmandu. However, among the relatives he sent home, only his 16-month-old son Kartik is alive. He is also in an injured condition. Awadhesh’s wife Poonam was eight months pregnant. His brother Vikesh was returning home after completing his engineering studies. Their dream of celebrating Chhath with their family and sharing happiness with their mother has been shattered by the accident. Nirmala Devi’s house is now in mourning after losing a member of the same family. Similarly, Nirushu Yadav of Sundarpur lost his son Rakesh Rai (40) and grandson Rohan Rai (14). He is now waiting for the bodies of his son and grandson to arrive.
The women of the family are in a state of disarray. Rakesh’s wife had come to the village two days ago with two granddaughters and a grandson to celebrate Chhath.
The deceased has been identified as Subodh Raya, 25, son of Nirushu Raya’s brother Chandeshwor Raya. Another big calamity has befallen the family of Niras Rai of Sundarpur. His two sons were returning home in the same vehicle. Among them, 25-year-old Ramdular Rai died in the accident while 30-year-old Devendra Rai was injured. With tears in his eyes, Niras Rai said that his eldest son died a few years ago when he was in Mumbai, India, for work. He said that he lost his second son while returning home from Kathmandu. He said that his surviving son was also injured and requested him to help in the treatment. Similarly, Ram Pravesh Yadav, 2, son of Amiri Rai of Sundarpur, died in the accident. Pramod Yadav’s son Guddu Yadav (26) and daughter-in-law Gayatri Devi (24) were also killed in the accident. Their five-year-old son Saksham Yadav and three-year-old son Sujan Yadav were injured in the accident. Both the children lost their parents at a young age. The driver of the vehicle, Ravi Shankar Mandal, 30, of Kabilasi Municipality-8 also died in the accident. Mukesh Yadav, 33, son of Basdev Raya of Sundarpur was also injured.
The accident has snatched away the happiness of many families in the village when the residents of Sundarpur, who were staying in Kathmandu for employment and building the future of their families, were returning home for the Chhath festival. Somewhere the mother has lost the child, somewhere the children have lost their parents.
Sundarpur, which is waiting for Chhath offerings, puja preparations and family reunions, is now preparing for the final farewell of its loved ones. There is a silence of grief and pain all over the village during the celebration of the festival.
प्रतिक्रिया दिनुहोस्
