A team led by Dr. Pravin Pathak, a doctor at Bhimphedi Hospital, tested the urine of 111 drivers and found that 11 of them had consumed drugs.
What you should know
Makawanpur Police have arrested 11 drivers for driving under the influence of drugs on the Bhimphedi-Kulekhani road, a short-distance alternative route from Hetauda to the capital.
A joint team of the District Traffic Police Office Makawanpur, Area Police Office Bhimphedi, District Public Health Office Makawanpur and Vehicle Mechanical Testing Office Hetauda arrested 11 people on Wednesday during a security check.
A team led by Dr. Prabin Pathak, a doctor at Bhimphedi Hospital, tested the urine of 111 drivers and found that 11 of them had consumed drugs. According to Police Inspector Sant Shrestha of the Area Police Office Bhimphedi, 9 of the 11 people who consumed drugs are public transport drivers. Police Inspector Shrestha informed that they have been arrested.
Among those arrested are 6 sumo drivers and 3 EV (electric) vehicle drivers, while the other 2 are drivers of vehicles carrying fruits and fish, according to the police.
Police said that special testing of drivers and vehicles has been started in coordination with the traffic police after vehicle accidents started increasing on the winding and narrow roads of the hilly area. The police have stated that the drivers who were driving recklessly, endangering the lives of passengers, will be taken into custody and legal action will be taken against them.
On December 20, a Tata Sumo (Na 1 Ja 1778) coming from Kathmandu to Hetauda met with an accident in Jurikhet, Bhimphedi Rural Municipality-6, killing six passengers and injuring three others. After this incident, people have been demanding that the local administration and police investigate the consumption of alcohol and drugs by the general public.
