KATHMANDU, July 21: Sindhuli has become a hub for national highways in recent years, with three major highways—BP Highway, Madan Bhandari Highway, and Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway—either passing through or being constructed in the district. However, with greater access has come a worrying rise in traffic accidents.
According to the District Police Office, Sindhuli, the district recorded 205 road accidents in the past year alone—from mid-August 2024 to present—resulting in 30 deaths and injuries to over 521 individuals. The majority of these occurred on the BP Highway.
Locals and authorities cite multiple factors behind the spike: narrow and winding roads, overspeeding, poor road signage maintenance, lack of traffic awareness, and reckless driving. Although the highways have been upgraded or newly constructed, they have also turned into danger zones due to these issues.
When will it end?
Drivers say that safety signages are worn out and especially difficult to see at night or during foggy conditions. On the Madan Bhandari Highway, which is broad but winding, accidents are frequent, often due to pedestrians crossing unsafely or drying asphalt grains on the road.
“There’s good blacktopping and width, but high speed on curves is causing accidents,” said Haredam Khatiwada, a traffic officer at Dudhauli. He added that the rise in large vehicles, including tippers and long-route passenger buses from the east, has worsened the situation.
Among the reported road accidents, the BP Highway recorded the highest number with 82 accidents, resulting in 11 deaths and 223 injuries. The Madan Bhandari Highway followed closely with 78 accidents, 14 fatalities, and 208 injuries. On the Pushpalal Highway, seven accidents were reported, leaving one person dead and 16 injured. Meanwhile, internal roads witnessed 38 accidents, causing four deaths and injuring 74 individuals.
DSP Surya Prakash Subedi of Sindhuli DPO said BP Highway, being narrow and winding, is especially risky. He stressed the need for cautious driving, especially in fog-prone areas like Khaniyakharka.
To mitigate the crisis, police have stepped up checks and launched awareness campaigns. “Mechanical failures and sharp uphill turns are major causes, but driver negligence is also to blame,” said SP Lal Dhwoj Subedi, Chief of the DPO. Limited traffic personnel has made enforcement challenging, but initiatives like time cards and stricter monitoring are underway.
