Kathmandu, August 16
A tragic accident took place on Thursday in Gatthaghar, Bhaktapur, resulting in the death of a scooter rider after being hit by a truck. The accident occurred at around 1:40 pm when a truck (registration number Na 6 Kha 2173) collided with a scooter (registration number Ba 49 Pa 8944). The impact was so severe that the scooter driver died instantly at the scene.
The confirmation of the deceased’s identity, however, took several hours, with confusion arising over whether the victim was a man or a woman. Initially, the police reported that a woman had died in the accident. According to early reports, a man arrived at the scene and claimed that the deceased was his sister. Based on his identification and eyewitness accounts, the police confirmed the victim as a female.
The case took a sudden turn when the woman reported to be dead contacted the police, revealing that she was alive. This prompted the authorities to review CCTV footage, which ultimately showed that the victim was a man, not a woman.
Further investigation of documents found at the scene confirmed the deceased as 65-year-old Uttam Koirala, a resident of Kapan, Kathmandu, originally from Chishankhugadhi Rural Municipality-4 in Okhaldhunga.
Initial reports based on eyewitness accounts
SP Bed Bista of Bhaktapur Police explained that the initial confusion stemmed from eyewitness reports. The body was badly mutilated after being run over by the truck, making it difficult to immediately determine the victim’s gender. Locals who witnessed the incident believed that a woman was involved, leading the police to release the incorrect information initially.
To complicate matters further, a man named Shambhu Nepali arrived at the scene, tearfully claiming that the deceased was his sister. This claim led to the mistaken identification of the victim as a female. The police publicly reported that a woman had died in the accident, based on this information.
Further investigation clarifies the identity
After the body was sent for post-mortem examination, police discovered discrepancies in the identification. Documents retrieved from the scene, including a blue book and a driver’s license, indicated that the deceased was male. Following these revelations, it was confirmed that the victim was Uttam Koirala, not a woman, as initially reported.
Shambhu Nepali, who had mistakenly identified the victim as his sister, was taken into custody for further questioning. The police are investigating the circumstances that led to the incorrect identification, and additional inquiries are underway.
Arrest and aftermath of the accident
The driver of the truck, 32-year-old Satendra Shrestha of Malangawa Municipality-2 in Sarlahi, has been arrested and is in police custody. The truck was impounded and taken to Armed Police Battalion No. 2 in the Kathmandu Valley.
The accident sparked protests and vandalism by locals, leading to a tense situation in Gatthaghar. The Bhaktapur police deployed a force of 118 officers under the command of SP Bista, along with 130 personnel from various offices in Kathmandu and 120 armed police officers to control the situation. To disperse the crowd, police fired 22 rounds of tear gas.
During the unrest, SP Bista, Police Assistant Bahadur Raut, and a local named Saugat Sapkota were injured. Protesters damaged traffic islands, police posts, and equipment, according to the Bhaktapur police. Despite the chaos, the situation was eventually brought under control.
This incident has raised concerns about the accuracy of initial reports in such incidents and highlights the challenges authorities face in ensuring correct information is disseminated in chaotic situations.
