Bara blast update: Death toll reaches 2
According to authorities, two out of the six individuals injured in the blast succumbed to their injuries during treatment.
KATHMANDU: A 45-year-old Resham Magar, a garage owner, and 35-year-old Rakesh Jaiswal, a resident of India, tragically lost their lives in an explosion at a car repair garage located in Nijgadh Municipality-7 of Bara district on Monday.
According to authorities, two out of the six individuals injured in the blast succumbed to their injuries during treatment.
The police report indicates that Raj Jaiswal, a Kawadi operator from Nijgadh Municipality-9, brought a copper-containing object resembling a ‘projectile’ to the garage for extraction.
Unfortunately, the object detonated during the extraction attempt, leading to the fatal incident. Initially, Jaiswal attempted to extract copper from the object using Kawadi but failed, prompting him to bring it to the lathe machine in the garage.
The explosion occurred while cutting the object with the lathe, which is typically utilized in projectile missiles. Police investigations suggest that such items are not commonly found in Nepal and resemble the Indian field gun 105mm.
Following the explosion, Jaiswal and his wife Susiladevi Jaiswal were apprehended by the police as they were attempting to flee to India in an ambulance.
Among the injured, three individuals are in critical condition, with witnesses describing severe mutilation and burns on their bodies.
The injured parties include 20-year-old Arvin Shah from India, 20-year-old Ritu Rajat (address undisclosed), 34-year-old Phirod Dewan from Parsa Birgunj, and 45-year-old Surya Bahadur Thapa from Nijgadh Municipality-5. Dewan and Thapa are reported to be in stable condition.
Superintendent of Police Suresh Kafle, the chief of Bara police, stated that the exploded object bears similarities to a bomb, and further testing is required to determine its exact nature.
Chief District Officer Shashidhar Ghimire emphasized the potency of the explosives, expressing relief that the damage was limited due to the explosion occurring in an open area.
However, nearby houses sustained damage from the explosion, prompting a thorough investigation by a police team deployed from the Nijgadh area police office and the district police office.
Police spokesperson Dadhiram Neupane confirmed that the area has been secured, and investigations are underway.
