KATHMANDU: Nepal Police has reported 124 road accidents across the country in the month of Baisakh caused by drunk driving, leaving 12 people dead and 174 injured.
According to Nepal Police spokesperson and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abinayaran Kafle, 37 of those accidents occurred in the Kathmandu Valley alone, resulting in two deaths and 50 injuries.
Kafle said Koshi Province recorded 35 accidents, in which two people died and 53 were injured. Madhesh Province witnessed 20 accidents, leaving 27 people injured, while Bagmati Province recorded 12 accidents that killed one person and injured 19 others.
Similarly, Gandaki Province reported five accidents that claimed four lives and injured three people. In Lumbini Province, nine accidents left three people dead and 15 injured.
Police said three people were injured in three separate accidents in Karnali Province, while four people were injured in three accidents in Sudurpaschim Province.
Stating that the risk of traffic accidents caused by drunk driving is increasing, DIG Kafle urged all drivers to strictly follow traffic rules. He noted that incidents of drunk driving tend to rise during nighttime, public holidays, and festivals.
“Driving under the influence of alcohol is not only a serious legal offence but also an extremely dangerous act that puts human life at risk,” he said.
Nepal Police said traffic monitoring and drunk-driving control campaigns have recently been intensified across the country, especially in urban areas, highways, busy intersections, and during nighttime hours.
Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Chief and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nawaraj Adhikari said legal action is being taken against drunk drivers while public awareness programmes are also being conducted.
“The traffic police are running awareness campaigns urging drivers and the public not to drive under the influence and to act responsibly for safe travel,” SSP Adhikari said.
According to police, alcohol consumption impairs drivers’ decision-making ability, makes vehicle control more difficult, and increases the tendency to speed, significantly raising the likelihood of accidents.
Police have urged all motorists to remain fully alert while driving and to comply with traffic regulations.
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