For the authorities, safety of passengers should come first. They should forbid the buses carrying passengers sitting on the rooftops or hanging to bus doors

A bus heading for Chilime from Kathmandu skidded off the road Tuesday at Rasuwa killing at least 35 persons at 1.00 p.m. This tragic accident took the lives of 23 men, 12 women and injured more than 35 passengers. The bus had fallen 200 meters below the road. Accidents like these are bound to happen when the buses are overloaded with passengers travelling on the rooftop of the bus. Some jumped and managed to save their lives. Overcrowding can tentatively be blamed for the disaster. Despite knowing that such bus accidents would happen the authorities did little and permitted the buses to ferry more passengers than they could safely carry. The buses are overcrowded particularly during the festive season. This year the scarcity of fuel meant the buses were carrying more load and passengers than they safely should as only a few of them were operating. The concerned permitted the passengers to commute precariously, and the traffic police looked the other way inviting disaster. However, the scarcity of buses did not prevent the passengers from taking perilous rides.

They were compelled to travel in a risky manner even though they knew that their lives were in danger. This recent road mishap was caused by carelessness about passenger safety as many of the people who were travelling did not want to miss out celebrations with their families. Arrangement for more buses could not be made due to the scarcity of fuel. So it is high time that the traffic police in particular carried out the necessary investigation and nabbed and punished the guilty who were not following the traffic rules to avert similar tragedy. Such a step will help discourage bus companies and drivers from playing with the lives of passengers in the future.

The authorities are also at fault for not being able to manage the fuel for the passenger buses. They had been given ample time to import the fuel. Some fuel has been brought in from China but in a small quantity. The authorities should have opened up the border points between Nepal and China earlier and imported adequate fuel so that the Nepalis could observe one of their major festivals. The Nepal Government had shown lethargy in importing the fuel from China before it was too late. However, the new government is taking right steps in that direction, and the process should be expedited given the urgency. China provided some fuel to this country on grant. As is only natural the tragedy has left the people of Rasuwa district in mourning. The authorities should take extra care particularly during the fuel shortages to ensure that people do not take high risk to their lives while travelling. But because of the acute fuel shortages, the police have been ignoring the adoption of proper safety measures by the operators of commercial vehicles as well as by the passengers. But for the authorities, the safety of passengers should come first. As such, prompt action ought to be taken to forbid the buses carrying passengers sitting on the rooftops or hanging to bus doors and windows. The overcrowded bus met with the accident after its front tyre was punctured. Had the traffic police been strict such traffic mishaps would not have taken place.

Re-open schools

Minister for Education Giriraj Mani Pokharel has expressed serious concern over the closure of schools in several districts of Tarai. He has also requested the agitating parties to change the timing and the form of the protests so that the schools are not affected. Since the April 25 earthquake, the education of Nepali children has been affected – those in the earthquake-hit districts of the hills in particular, apart from the damage to the structures of many schools. The schools were to open in the first or second week of the month of Baisakh when, on Baisakh 12, the disaster happened.

Now, more than two months has passed without schools running in several Tarai districts. The character of the agitation is violent and revengeful, and those defying are likely to face violent action. In this respect, role of the government becomes highly important. This year the Class Ten students in Tarai are certain to lose the most, as their courses are unlikely to be completed if the SLC exams are to be held in the usual time, in early Chaitra. The test for the government, however, will be to re-open the schools in the Tarai, even if the agitating parties refuse to do so.