Five-member panel formed to probe fatal Makwanpur EV crash

A five-member panel has been established by the District Administration Office in Makwanpur to probe an electric vehicle crash that resulted in 14 deaths and left six people injured. The accident occurred on Thursday morning in Bhimphedi Rural Municipality-6. Chief District Officer Basanta Adhikari announced that the panel would commence its formal inquiry into the cause of the incident on Thursday. Led by the Assistant Chief District Officer, the investigative body includes the head of the local Traffic Police, an engineer representing the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development, and a legal official attached to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law. The panel has been tasked with examining the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident and delivering its findings to local administrative authorities. Providing initial details of the journey, Adhikari stated that the passenger vehicle, bearing registration number Madhesh Province 03-001 Ja 0880, departed Kathmandu at approximately 2:00 am on Thursday heading toward Sarlahi. Officials noted that the electric transport passed through Deurali at around 5:15 am before encountering trouble further along the route shortly thereafter. According to police reports, the vehicle veered off the roadway near Chisapani Gadhi at approximately 5:45 am, falling roughly 500 metres down the slope. Emergency personnel and local authorities responded to the site of the fall, where 14 fatalities and six injuries were officially recorded following the incident.