Dear all, Today is 11 Jan. As many of you may recall, we started counting Nepali highway accidents (as reported on Kantipuronline and Nepalnews), adding up the number of victims and then bringing the final figures to public attention on Sajha three months ago -- since 11 October. At the time, we said that we'll track the figures for three months, from Oct to Jan. A lot has happened since. Pushpa Kamal Dahal and his Maoist children have gone on a further rampage - putting many trucks carrying goods and buses carrying passengers on fire, and laying landmines in various parts of highways across Nepal, not to mention creating blockades that have harmed small farmers, producers and many ordinary Nepalis. **** In October, San, the Web master of Sajha, set aside a box marked Sajha Awareness Corner on this site to highlight the accident figures. I will do the remaining math work later this week-end, and will put up the final figures. I am not sure how one goes about using this information to put pressure on the government to do something, anything to reduce the number of needless highway accidents in Nepal. I'd appreciate your advice and suggestions. Meantime, here is but one taajaa sad khabar from our wretched motherland. oohi ashu *********** 11 people killed as bus plunges into Trishuli River KOL Report KATHMANDU, Jan 10 - At least 11 people were killed and 18 others injured when a bus they were traveling in plunged into the Trishuli River at Simaltal, along Mugling-Narayangadh road on Monday afternoon. The ill-fated bus en-route to Bhairahawa from Waling of Syangja district skidded off the road and plunged into the river at around 1:30 pm this afternoon. Our correspondent quoting the Chitwan Police reports nine people died on the spot. Two others succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at Bharatpur Medical College in Chitwan. The injured people are undergoing treatment in the hospital. Four of the injured are in critical condition, the hospital sources said. (dds/snn)