A 78-year-old pedestrian, Kamal Bahadur Shrestha, died on Wednesday morning after being hit by a motorcycle on the East-West Highway in Golbazar, Siraha District. The incident occurred around 6 AM at Gurudham Chowk in Golbazar Municipality-2 as Shrestha, a resident of Golbazar Municipality-3, was crossing the road.
Police reported that the motorcycle (Province 1-05-001 P 1636), traveling from Kasaha towards Mirchaiya, struck Shrestha. He was initially taken to Life Long Hospital for basic treatment before being referred to Biratnagar for further care. Shrestha was later declared dead at a government hospital in Harinagar, Sunsari District.
Following the accident, the Area Police Office, Golbazar, took the motorcycle and its driver, Bimal Kumar Chaudhary, into custody. Police are conducting further investigations into the incident.
Road Safety Concerns in Nepal
This accident highlights ongoing concerns about road safety in Nepal. On average, six people die daily in road accidents across the country, according to the research brief. In the fiscal year 2080/81, a total of 2,369 individuals lost their lives due to road accidents, with approximately 76% of them being male. During the same period, 22,927 accidents were recorded, with motorcycles involved in approximately 56 percent of these incidents.
Madhesh Province, where the recent accident occurred, has seen a significant number of fatalities. In the last six months (Shrawan to Poush), 292 people died in road accidents in the province. Over this period, Madhesh Province recorded 2,859 accidents, resulting in 4,238 injuries.
Common causes of road accidents in Nepal include poor road conditions, driver negligence, old vehicles, non-compliance with traffic rules, speeding, driving under the influence, mechanical failures, and pedestrian carelessness, according to the research brief. Despite repeated recommendations from government-formed committees, many suggestions for accident reduction have not been implemented.
Government Initiatives and Future Steps
The Madhesh Province government has launched public awareness programs under the slogan ‘Safe Roads, Safe Madhesh Province’ to reduce road accidents and promote traffic discipline. During festival seasons like Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath, Madhesh Province police prioritize traffic management on highways and major roads to minimize accidents and congestion. For more on recent accidents, see our coverage of a school bus accident in Dang.
The Nepal Police has expressed interest in incorporating digital technology, CCTV cameras, traffic lights, and drunk driving checks to reduce road accidents. A task force has also been formed to suggest short-term, medium-term, and long-term measures for road accident reduction. A meeting of the Road Safety Council decided to form a study committee on road accidents, prepare a list of road safety experts, and immediately begin work on training and public awareness, as well as sending a road safety bill to a committee.
Unanswered Questions
The nationalities of Kamal Bahadur Shrestha and Bimal Kumar Chaudhary have not been specified. The exact location of Life Long Hospital is also unclear, as is the full name of the government hospital in Harinagar, Sunsari, where Shrestha was declared dead. Further investigation is underway to determine the detailed cause of the motorcycle accident.
