A deadly accident took place on the highway on Thursday killing nearly three dozens of people. The accident site is in the Saigaun-Ranchuli segment which is said to be the worst part of the highway. [break]
According to Dev Kumar Tamang, chief of Kalikot-Jumla Road Project, the road along this segment is only 3.5 meter wide while it was supposed to be five meter wide as per the plan.
Locals claim that most of some 150 accidents that occurred on the highway ever since its operation took place in this segment. "As the road is too small, vehicles could not pass at the same time and generally meet with the accidents while trying to give way to another," said Katak Bahadur Shahi, a member of Karnali Highway Concern Group Kalikot.
The highway also witnesses frequent accidents as the vehicles that regularly ply on it compete among themselves to squeeze the passengers.
Tula Raj Kathayat, of Khardu in Kalikot, thinks himself to be fortunate not to be on board the bus that met with the accident on Thursday. "As the bus was already full, and even had passengers all over roof, I waited for another bus," he said.
Meanwhile, locals staged a chakkajam on Thursday morning at Khidakijyula segment of the highway demanding improvement in road condition. They also demanded compensation to the families of the bereaved and active search for the missing passengers.
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