Kaski, Jan. 29: Although major road sections in Pokhara have been widened including the recently developed Pokhara-Hemza road section, road accidents are on the rise claiming many lives. According to the traffic police record, 22 individuals were killed in road accidents in the last six months of the current fiscal in Kaski. 

According to the District Traffic Police Office, Kaski, 43 persons died and 32 individuals sustained serious injuries in a total of 64 road accidents that took place in the fiscal year 2021/22. 

Similarly, 55 individuals were killed and 79 others were injured in road accidents in the fiscal year 2022/23. Likewise, in the fiscal year 2023/24, 44 persons died and 123 were injured in a total of 117 road accidents, according to the traffic police office. 

The number of road accidents has been increasing every year. Most of the road accidents and fatalities occur from Zero Kilo to Bindhyabasini roadside, said the traffic police office. In the last six months, six individuals got killed along the Zero Kilo to Bindhyabasani road section, said traffic police. 

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and spokesperson for the District Police, Shrawan Kumar B.K. said, “The fatal accidents along the Pokhara- Hemza road section have raised the concern of authorities. 

Lately, there have been more accidents in the city areas and the highways.” The accident that occurred in Pasryang in the last week of December was caused by there being no light on the footpath. 

Shiva Prasad Pathak, Senior Sub-Inspector of Traffic Police said that the accidents are happening more due to driver’s carelessness, high speed, dilapidated roads, drinking and driving, etc. Although some roads in Pokhara are wide, the bridges connected to those roads are narrow, which escalates accidents.

Prithvi Chowk, the main road of Pokhara, has a six-lane road and a two-lane bridge. 

The Zero Kilo Hemza section of the Pokhara-Baglung highway has six lanes, while the Phirke Bridge has two lanes, but still, deaths resulting from road accidents are on the rise.