By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, July 8: The Kathmandu Valley has recorded more than half of the total number of accidents across the country combined.
As per the data provided by the Nepal Police, up until mid-June of the current fiscal year, Kathmandu Valley recorded 9,453 accidents.
The total number of accidents recorded across the country until that time was 14,266.
The accidents in the Valley resulted in 145 deaths. Of them, seven were children, 112 men and 26 women.
According to the data of the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, a total of 8,918 accidents and 254 deaths were recorded in the valley in the previous fiscal year 2018/19.
Similarly, worrying numbers of accidents had been recorded in the past years as well, which have been increasing every year.
In fiscal year 2016/17, a total of 5,530 accidents and 182 deaths were recorded in the valley followed by 6,381 accidents and 194 deaths in fiscal year 2017/18.
While excessive number of vehicles plying the narrow roads of the valley has been cited as a key reason behind accidents, riders’ negligence is said to be another major cause. “Speeding and zigzag driving on the roads filled with vehicles has been resulting in many accidents in the valley. Moreover, the two wheelers try to enter in every gap possible and thus increase the risk of accident,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bhim Prasad Dhakal, chief of the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division.
The data shows that 17,075 vehicles were involved in 9,453 accidents in the valley. Due to the accidents, 5,823 individuals sustained minor injuries while 222 were severely injured.
While the roads of the valley used to be filled with vehicles, the number of vehicles plying the roads decreased during the lockdown. However, accidents were still prevalent.
The government had imposed the nationwide lockdown since March 24 and restricted the movement of vehicles, other than for essential services. As per the data, 875 accidents were recorded from mid-March to mid-June. Likewise, 27 deaths were reported in the accidents during the three months period.
“In lockdown, fewer vehicles were plying the roads. But rather than driving safely, over speeding on the empty roads led to a rise in the number accidents,” said Dhakal.
As per the traffic police, the accidents would decrease only when the riders and drivers abided by the traffic rules.
“We have been implementing lockdown effectively and at the same time trying our best to implement traffic rules, but the ones who need to follow the traffic rules are not following them. If the traffic rules are followed, the number of accidents will decline and so would the number of fatalities,” Dhakal added.