Relief eludes Madi victims

RATNANAGAR, Chitwan, June 6: Six years on since the horrendous incident of a passenger bus falling into a booby trap at Bandarmude of Madi, Chitwan, leaving dozens of people killed and injured, justice has still eluded the victims.



The survivors of the incident, that took the lives of 38 civilians and injured 72 others, are still awaiting relief and compensation. [break]



A passenger bus (Na 1Kha 3245) heading to Bharatpur from Ayodhyapuri of Madi had fallen into a landmine set up by the Maoists during the insurgency on Jestha 23, 2062 BS (June 6, 2005).



The survivors and families of the victims observe this day as a black day.



"We have lost hope of getting any relief after the Maoist-led government failed to deliver the promises for relief," said Nama Prasad Ghimire, a victim of the barbaric incident. Ghimire lost five members of his family in the incident.



"Forget the relief, the Maoists have not even distributed the donations that they supposedly collected for the victims of the Bandarmude incident," said Vice Chairman of a Committee of the Victims of Bandarmude incident, Krishna Adhikari.



The committee has constructed a memorial at the blast site. A memorial was held at the site Sunday.

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