RAUTAHAT, June 16: Fatal accidents involving tippers continue to raise concerns in Rautahat, where two people have been killed and another seriously injured in separate incidents over the past nine days.
Local residents have expressed concern that roads in the district are becoming increasingly unsafe due to the unchecked transportation of sand, gravel and stones linked to illegal crusher industries.
According to police, the latest accident occurred at around 4 pm on Tuesday near Garuda Sugar Mill, when a tipper carrying stone and gravel (registration number Madhesh Province 03–001 Kha 2516) collided with a motorcycle (Na 28 Pa 7259) coming from the opposite direction.
The motorcycle rider, 20-year-old Sheikh Swayal of Fatepur, Katahariya Municipality–6, died on the spot. His 22-year-old maternal uncle, Sheikh Ashik of the same locality, who was riding pillion, sustained serious injuries and is undergoing treatment.
When will it end?
Earlier, on Jestha 24, 2083, 35-year-old Pramod Sahani of Malahi village in Gadhimai Municipality–4 was killed after being hit by a tipper (Province 2–03–001 Kha 2633) near Sundarpur Chowk. The driver had fled the scene following the accident.
Following an intensive investigation, police arrested the driver, 24-year-old Abdul Ejaj of Brindaban Municipality–2, and initiated legal proceedings against him.
Locals said the movement of tippers has increased significantly after extraction from rivers and streams was halted with the beginning of the monsoon season. Groups involved in the riverbed materials business had stockpiled large quantities of stones, gravel and sand in advance, and the rush to utilise development budgets during the fiscal period has accelerated their transportation.
As a result, both major and inner roads across the district have witnessed an unusual rise in tipper traffic.
Residents have accused the police administration of remaining silent and failing to conduct effective monitoring, allowing tippers linked to illegal crusher industries to operate recklessly on public roads.
Stakeholders have drawn attention to increasing casualties caused by overspeeding, negligent driving and disregard for traffic rules.
Locals complain that despite repeated fatal accidents, the failure to take effective control measures has made the menace of reckless tipper operation even more severe in Rautahat.
With the number of fatalities increasing, stakeholders have demanded stricter action against illegal crusher operations, regulation of riverbed material transportation and tighter speed control of tippers.
