Khotang. One person was killed and 14 others injured when a microbus carrying passengers heading towards Siraha after visiting Halesi temple met with an accident.

The microbus (Province 2-0-1-001 Ja 0053) met with the accident near Dauthekhola at Kaduwa on the Jayaram-Halesi road section of the Mid-Hill Highway at around 9 am today.

The identities of the deceased and injured are yet to be ascertained. Kamal Giri, spokesperson of Halesi Tuwachung Municipality and ward chair of Ward No. 7 Mahadevsthan, informed that the injured were rescued and sent to Ghurmi for treatment.

Spokesperson Giri said that six of the injured have been sent to the National Trauma Centre in Kathmandu by an ambulance of the municipality as they need to be treated in the intensive care unit of the hospital. According to health workers, the condition of eight people undergoing treatment at The Public Service Polyclinic in Ghurmi is returning to normal.

It was found that 16 passengers were on board the microbus. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of District Police Office, Khotang, Pratik Bista, informed that the rescue operation is being carried out with the help of police and locals deployed at the accident site.

According to eyewitnesses, the microbus fell about 200 meters down the road. Spokesperson Giri said that a large number of human casualties were averted due to the presence of bushes and bushes at the accident site.

The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained and details are being collected, police said. The microbus accident took place in the world famous tri-religious site Halesi, where the pilgrims returning from the ‘Bolbam’ fair met with the accident.

Halesi, the meeting place of Hindus, Buddhists and Kirats, is celebrated throughout the month of Saun. The visitors reserve private and rental vehicles to fill the month-long Bolbam Fair.