SIRAHA, April 27: An elderly man died after being hit by a truck in Golbazar of Siraha district on Tuesday morning, with locals blaming unmanaged roadside markets for increasing accident risks.
According to police, the victim—yet to be identified—was killed on the spot after being struck by a sand-laden truck (Na 1 Ka 9228) heading east along the East-West Highway. The body is being prepared for postmortem, the Area Police Office, Golbazar, said.
Eyewitnesses said the man was walking along the roadside when the truck brushed against him, causing him to fall onto the road, where he was run over by the rear wheel. “He was walking on the roadside. After the truck hit him, he fell inward and was crushed,” a witness said.
One killed, two injured in pickup truck accident in Sunsari
Locals have blamed the recurring accidents on the unmanaged weekly market that operates directly on the roadside. The market, held every Saturday and Tuesday, has led to congestion and unsafe conditions for pedestrians and vehicles alike.
A local resident, Dhaneshwar Yadav, said poor coordination among local government, police, and traffic authorities has contributed to repeated incidents. He added that both wholesale and retail traders occupying the road have significantly increased the risk.
Despite the municipality reportedly spending millions of rupees on market management, locals complain that effective implementation has been lacking. A lack of coordination among traders, farmers, and stakeholders has further hindered efforts to organize the market.
Currently, wholesale vegetable traders are seen parking trucks along the road and selling goods directly from them, obstructing traffic and heightening the risk of accidents in the area.
