Fatal indifference

The accident spree demonstrated in the streets of Kathmandu’s Chabahil is enough to unnerve everyone. The regularity with which the accidental deaths have been taking place defies all reason. It is all the more unbelievable when the buses of one particular company operating the services are to be blamed for many deaths and injuries over a very brief span of time. In the latest incident on Sunday, a bus mowed down five people of whom two have already succumbed to their injuries. As if to add more fuel, a microbus the other day knocked down a pedestrian at Gaurighat which is not in the real sense the hub of heavy traffic movement. These are but the recent incidents that reflects the callousness of the vehicle drivers, the traffic management aspect, and possibly the ill-managed vendors crowding busy intersections. The loss of life prematurely in mishaps, from whatever source it may be, is tragic. There can be no recompense in words to condole it. Yet, the cruel fact remains that the vehicular movement in Kathmandu valley is as erratic and unmanaged as ever. It is also the addition of scores of vehicles every day to the never-expanding narrow and limited roads in the valley. This fact, however, does not overlook that the situation of the highways and other urban centres of the country which are similarly chaotic and the human toll in accidents ever-increasing by the day.

Speaking in a straightforward manner, the non-compliance of the vehicle drivers to the traffic rules and regulations are often the causes of accidents. It has also been reported that the vehicle drivers at the time of many a accidents were mere novices or rather the helpers who had been granted the favour of driving in areas with heavy traffic. This all the more makes sense for the traffic police to be ever-vigilant, but as is the case, they sometimes hesitate to venture forth in all severity fearing the backlash of the public vehicle drivers combined. This is what has made the aggrieved public come to the forefront. It speaks ill of the mechanism that has the duty of managing the traffic and seeing to it that the rules are followed. A few traffic police manning the busy crossroads have difficulty, and, hence, need backup in numbers which signifies strength. Adding the number of vehicles to the limited length of the roads will inevitably invite tragedies, as is amply proved by the everyday accidents that kill or maim scores. The traffic police may express their helplessness, but the government and its line agencies have to take the responsibility for the haphazard manner in which the traffic is managed, and the roads encroached upon by the vendors, and the like.

The repercussions are high. Just by broadening some sections of the roads will not solve the problem of rising number of vehicles on the road. Together with it, allegations are there that there are many who have gained access to driving licences without being qualified for the same. When such ill-trained and incapable people drive public vehicles, the life of the commuters is definitely at risk, besides that of the pedestrians. It is not only strictness in granting liences but regular checks, and severe punishment to the defaulters are more than urgent.

Tiger mission

Tigers have always held the fascination of all. The mighty residents of the jungle have come under serious threat all because of the human love for their hides, organs and bone arising from the myth that they hold cures for a horde of ailments and health shortcomings. In fact, it is not only Nepal where the tiger population has been diminishing, the world over the trend is quite disheartening. The jungles in southern Nepal were once home to teeming tigers but now only luck can lead to the sight of a tiger or two. That speaks of how poaching has near decimated the tiger population in the country.

Seeing the declining tiger count, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has launched its Tx2 campaign with the slogan “Double or Nothing: Save the wild tiger and save so much more” on a global scale that means the 13 tiger range countries. The mission is to double the tiger population from the present figures by 2022, a mere twelve year away. An estimated global tiger population is only 3,200 while Nepal is host to barely 121 tigers. Though the task is of tall order, if the governments concerned can commit themselves to the task there is every hope that the tiger population will slowly rebound.