Darchula Incident: Death of a 9-yr-old Nepali boy during roadwork

An Indian construction company has admitted its mistake that caused the death of a Nepali boy while constructing a roadway.

The Indian company Gorge and Gorge admitted its mistake and showed readiness for compensation to the family of the deceased boy.

A nine-year-old Nepali boy, Pawan Mahara, walking on the Mahakali riverbank opposite the construction site was killed on the spot after a stone, hurled from an explosion made in course of road construction in the Indian side, hit him. The accident took place at Dumling of Byas Rural Municipality of Darchula district on Friday. "The Indian construction company has admitted its mistake on the death of the boy," said Information Officer and Police Inspector at District Police Office Darchula, Rajesh Shahi. The Nepali side discussed with the Indian company and the victim's family on the incident.

The Indian side was expanding the road on its side along the Mahakali River without informing the Nepali side of the use of explosives in the construction. It resulted in the killing of Mahara, whom the Nepali side blames. During the discussion with both sides, the Indian side owned up to the incident, Inspector Shahi added.

Shahi further said, "The Indian construction company is ready to compensate the victim's family." As per the agreement, the company will assist in educating the Mahara siblings up to Grade 12 and giving employment to one of the members of the Mahara family.

Although the construction company was ready to provide Rs 1 million as compensation, the victim's family denied it, according to Inspector of Police, Shahi.

Chief District Officer Dirgharaj Upadhyay informed that the victim's family has demanded the company with one million Indian currency. He added that further discussion would be held with Gorge and Gorge, and the victim's family ensured proper compensation.

Members of the victim's family and representatives of the security body and administration reached Dharchula of India for the discussion on Saturday. The Nepali side showed concern over the repeated use of explosives without sharing information on the international border. The Indian side has been urged not to repeat such acts.

The locals on the Nepali side have been complaining that even the houses on the Nepali side were affected due to the use of explosives during construction on the Indian side.

On Friday, even the sister of the victim boy, Sarina, 14, was injured due to an explosion. Sarina has been receiving treatment at District Hospital, Darchula.

Both of them were returning from the jungle along with their parents. Mahara's body was brought to the District Hospital Friday night for post-mortem.

The dead boy was Grade 3 student at Sarbahit Basic School in Dumling. Sarina received an injury on her leg, according to her father Hikmat Mahara.

Hikmat explained, "I, spouse Berashpati, son Pankaj, Pawan and Pawesh, and daughter Sarina were returning home from high land. All of a sudden, a stone hurled at us from an explosion beyond the river took my son's life. If we were informed early about the use of explosives, we would not lose our son. But they (the Indian side) did not even whistle." The Mahara family had been high land for livestock pasture during the Dashain-Tihar vacation. They returned home as the school is reopening on October 31.

The Gorge and Gorge has been expanding the road on the Indian side beyond the Mahakali River.

CDO Upadhyay said they had informed Foreign Ministry about the incident.

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