Kathmandu, Aug 6 - As Nepal condemned the grisly accident in the heart of the capital Wednesday in which six pedestrians, including five Indians, were struck down by a speeding car, its driver, a 21-year-old student, surrendered before police.

Biplab Mansingh Dangol, who hit seven people in front of Nepal's oldest hospital around 12.45 a.m. Wednesday during the aftermath of his birthday bash, turned himself in at the Hanumandhopa police station just before midnight, after the violent public protests over the carnage caused by him had subsided.

The 21-year-old was driving a Honda City car registered in the name of his mother, Shanti Mansingh Dangol. According to police, he claimed in the preliminary statement that he had swerved to avoid hitting a motorcycle, resulting in a collision with the iron fencing of the pavement in front of Bir Hospital.

Dangol also claimed he did not see the group of seven people his car ploughed into, killing six and causing the seventh to be admitted to hospital with critical head injuries.

According to the statement, Dangol had enrolled in a private educational institute in India's Silicon City Bangalore to acquire a Bachelor's degree in business administration. After completing his high school education in Nepal, he had been studying in the Indian institution for three months and had come home on holiday.

After celebrating his 21st birthday at home Wednesday, he was dropping his friends home when the accident occurred, he told police.

Inspector Prem Sagar K.C., the investigating officer, said there were three more youths in the car Wednesday night.

'We have asked all three to turn themselves in and expect them at the police station today (Thursday),' the police officer told IANS.

Nepal's Home Minister Bhim Rawal, who met the families of the five Indians killed in the mishap, has assured them that action will be taken against the guilty and government will provide compensation as well as pay for the medical treatment of the injured.

All the dead Indians, including two women, are from Bihar.

The tragedy occurred around 12.45 a.m. as 15-year-old Sanjeev Gupta was discharged by the hospital.

The teenager, whose parents had come from Sitamarhi more then 20 years ago, rushed him to hospital fearing he had contracted diarrhoea, which has already killed nearly 250 people in Nepal.