Sadly, on Thursday, a tragic accident happened in Jajarkot where at least 26 people lost their lives. In Nepal, bus accidents have been shocking news for all of us time and time again. But, at the same time, vehicle drivers appear not to be aware of safe driving.

However, high speeding on the gravel roads, drink-driving and careless driving at sharp bends will create major accidents. Similarly, issuing license to immature persons to drive public vehicles leads to higher rates of accidents than public vehicles driven by mature persons.

Therefore, in this regard, the government should constantly monitor the public vehicles, particularly in the rural and hilly areas, where major bus accidents often take place, if records of such incidents are any indicators. But the traffic police are not seen in many hilly and rural areas.

They are confined more in urban areas where they can collect more as fine as they also get some perks in the name of incentives. There must be a system in which all vehicles must pass the safety test, which is not available in Nepal.

Most importantly, small negligence of the drivers could be responsible for major disasters which could be avoided if caution was exercised by them. Therefore, drivers should be given more training just like a soldier receives before being assigned to duty as the life of many passengers is in their hand.

They must also refuse to drive the buses if they are not in a good condition. There are many roads that are not passenger-travel worthy. The government must impose a ban on rural or gravel roads that do not meet the minimum standard of road-worthiness.

The roads must be widened; their alignment must be standardized and repair works must be carried out routinely to minimize road accidents.

The people themselves must be careful while travelling in public buses, and they should not travel in a overcrowded bus and immediately inform the police if they find any bus carrying more than its carrying capacity.

Saroj Wagle, Bara

Holi excuse

Holi is one of the jovial festivals of Hindus. It is a festival of colors. It has been celebrated in memory of the love of Radha for Krishna.

The religious narrations emphasize the fact that it is celebrated to epitomize the mythological accuracy that good always wins over evil. However, ironically what we are seeing in the streets is just the opposite. People are throwing raw eggs and even harmful liquids that may potentially cause skin damage.

There are people who may be allergic to substances or liquids that are thrown at each other haphazardly. The very shocking and inhumane thing is that some may take this festival as a Holi-excuse in order to molest women in an artistic-accidental manner.

I think the laws need to be enshrined for not eliminating the festival but in order to preserve it with due respect.

Shiva Neupane, Melbourne