KATHMANDU: The tragic tipper accident in Sankharapur, Kathmandu, has sparked outrage among locals, who claim that reckless tipper drivers operate with impunity due to the protection of police and local leaders.
Early Friday morning, a tipper crashed into a shelter home run by the Conflict Victims and Disabled Society (CVDS), killing three physically disabled individuals—21-year-olds Akash Nepali and Suman Nepali, and 45-year-old Harijan. The victims were asleep when the tipper, reportedly driven by a drowsy driver, plowed into their room.
According to shelter founder Yubraj Thapa, the victims had no family apart from the shelter. “I’ve been caring for the homeless since 2062 BS. Losing them is unbearable,” he said, vowing to fight for justice.
The tipper (Ba 2 K 6580), driven by 25-year-old Sagar Maji from Melamchi Municipality-12, Sindhupalchok, reportedly lost control and crashed after hitting an electric pole. Maji later admitted that he had fallen asleep at the wheel.
Locals demand accountability
Following the incident, local resident Dharma Karki blamed the accident on driver negligence. “The road is 22 meters wide, and traffic is light at 3 AM. There was no reason for this to happen unless the driver was reckless,” he said.
According to Karki, the vehicle was partially on the road while the other half had entered the shelter. “We rushed to the scene and used a machine to pull the vehicle away. The three were trapped underneath. We took them to the hospital as fast as possible, but doctors declared them dead upon arrival,” he added.
Locals accused local representatives and the police of protecting reckless tipper drivers despite repeated warnings. “This wasn’t an accident—it was a preventable tragedy. We had raised concerns about reckless tippers, but no action was taken. Now, innocent lives are lost,” they said.
They are now demanding stricter enforcement against reckless driving and a complete ban on tipper operations in the area. Meanwhile, shelter operator Thapa has urged the government to assist in relocating the remaining 61 residents, as their lease agreement expires on Jestha 20.
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