A nine-year-old boy in Darchula died on Friday after being hit by a stone that flew in a blast carried out for widening Lipulekh road.
An Indian construction company, named Garg and Garg has admitted its mistake and has agreed to provide compensation of Indian 10 million rupees to the family of the deceased boy which is equivalent to 1.6 million Nepali rupees.
As the Indian firm hadn’t informed the Nepali authorities before the explosion, Pawan Mahara of the Vyas-2, Darchula was killed on the spot while walking on the other side of the border in the Nepali territory on Friday.
Meanwhile, his sister, Sarina was also injured in her legs due to the explosion. Sarina has been receiving treatment at District Hospital, Darchula.
Information Officer at Darchula District Police Office, Rajesh Shahi said, “the Indian construction company has admitted its mistake in the boy’s death.”
As per the agreement, the company will provide financial assistance in educating the Mahara siblings up to Grade 12 and give employment to one of the members of the Mahara family.
Hikmat Mahara, the father of the deceased boy said, “I, my spouse Berashpati, my son Pankaj, Pawan and Pawesh and daughter Sarina were heading home and all of a sudden, a stone hurled at us from an explosion beyond the Mahakali River.”
The Ministry of Home Affairs has written to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take up the matter with New Delhi through diplomatic channels and ensure compensation for the victim’s family.
“Nepal Army is also building a road along the Mahakali. During construction, our side blows a whistle and relays information through a loudspeaker before detonating an explosive device but they failed to do so,” Chief District Officer of Darchula, Dirgha Raj Upadhyaya said.
During risky work near the international border, it is normal protocol for the two countries to coordinate in order to save lives and property. Upadhyay said the child had died because of the failure of the Indian side to share information beforehand.
