Sukaram Tamang, a resident of Dhapakhel in Lalitpur originally from Panauti, Kavre, was severely injured when a tipper truck collided with his motorcycle at around 4 am on March 15. He succumbed to his injuries a few days later while undergoing treatment at the National Trauma Center. The pillion rider, Ramesh Tamang, sustained serious injuries.
In a separate incident on March 23, Sabina Gurung (25) died after a microbus traveling from Chitwan to Kathmandu crashed near Nagdhunga. Nine others were injured in the accident. The condition of three of them was said to be serious.
Similarly, on March 15, 18-year-old Riwaz Acharya was killed in a collision between two speeding motorcycles near Fulbari Gate in Tokha-1, Kathmandu. Road accidents have surged in Kathmandu, the capital city, in recent years. Traffic police data reveals that two to three people die daily in such incidents. Data shows the involvement of two-wheelers in road accidents is much higher compared to four-wheelers.
According to Binod Ghimire, chief of the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Office, nighttime accidents result in higher casualties than daytime crashes. Between mid-July last year and March-end this year, the valley recorded 4,267 accidents which claimed 135 lives. Of these deaths, 95 involved motorcycles or scooters, while 41 were linked to four-wheelers. Additionally, 167 people suffered serious injuries, and 4,903 sustained minor ones. During this period, 4,352 two-wheelers and 3,344 four-wheelers were involved in accidents.
Between mid-February to mid-March alone, 793 accidents were recorded in the valley. Seventeen people died in these accidents, while 19 were seriously injured and 719 sustained minor injuries. In the latter half of March, 10 fatalities were reported, along with seven serious injuries and 237 minor injuries.
Traffic police data shows 26 to 30 accidents occur daily in Kathmandu Valley on average. Over the past three years, the valley has witnessed 23,823 road accidents, resulting in 490 deaths and 718 serious injuries. Traffic police estimate that 30 percent of those critically injured may later die from their wounds.
Likewise, Nepal Police data shows 25,640 accidents were recorded across the country between mid-July last year and mid-February. A total of 1,633 people died in these accidents, while 4,451 were seriously injured. On average, 63 accidents are reported across the country every day, resulting in 7-10 fatalities and 80-90 injuries. Approximately 225 people die in road crashes across the country each month.
Ghimire attributes most accidents to driver negligence, particularly speeding and overconfidence. Common causes for two-wheeler crashes include reckless overtaking, unsecured helmets, drunk driving, mobile phone use, and traffic rule violations. Pillion riders without helmets face severe injury risks even in minor collisions, he added. “Fatalities are less likely at lower speeds. Many drivers are skilled but ignore rules; some treat roads like racetracks,” he added.
According to traffic police officials, it is difficult to provide treatment to victims, especially in cases involving uninsured vehicles. “Many motorcycles lack valid registration or insurance which delays medical care for victims,” Ghimire added. Deepak Giri, spokesperson for the Nepal Police Traffic Division, said that 70 percent of accidents involve two-wheelers, followed by jeeps, cars, vans, buses, and microbuses.
To curb accidents, the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Office recently launched the “Two Minutes with Two-Wheelers” campaign, engaging reckless drivers to educate them on traffic rules. Giri told ApEx that they have received positive feedback from the campaign. “Overconfidence among drivers still remains a significant issue,” he said, adding that 200–300 individuals are penalized for speeding or drunk driving every day.
Police say speeding, intoxication, vehicle defects improper overtaking and pedestrian negligence as leading causes. “Urban congestion, poor roads and mechanical failures are some of the causes of road accidents,” Dinesh Acharya, central spokesperson for Nepal Police, said. “Even educated people are flouting traffic rules. Responsible driving is key to reducing accidents.” Data shows more than 50 percent of road accidents involve drivers in the 26-40 age group.
