Kathmandu, September 21
A dispute reportedly took place between a bus driver and traffic police on duty in Tripureshwor, Kathmandu, shortly before the bus caught fire.
A video clip of the argument circulated on social media captures the driver saying, “I am ready to die, but I will not pay the fine.”
Shortly afterwards, a Riddhi Siddhi Yatayat bus, Ba 5 Kha 4274, caught fire. Bus driver Dawa Lama, 25, from Kavre, was seriously injured in the fire. Police rescued him and took him to a burn hospital in Kirtipur. Doctors involved in his treatment said his condition was critical.
The video of the argument appears to show traffic police attempting to issue the driver a fine for allegedly violating traffic rules. The driver, however, insists that he had not committed any offence and refuses to pay the fine.
“I am being fined without committing any offence,” he is heard saying in the video.
The video shows the driver inside the bus and traffic police officers on the road. People wearing Armed Police Force uniforms and others in civilian clothes are also seen. They appear to be asking the driver to move the bus to the side, saying that stopping it in the middle of the road was affecting traffic movement.
During the argument, the driver says he respects the traffic police and has apologised, but complains that they are still trying to fine him.
As the traffic police insist that he must pay the fine and the driver refuses, the argument escalates. The driver becomes more agitated and says, “We are working people. I am ready to die.”
He repeats that he had not committed any offence but had still apologised, saying, “Despite showing them so much respect, they are being careless. Do whatever you can.”
A short while later, flames were seen coming from the rear of the bus.
