JAJARKOT, Sept 15: Sujata Wagle of Gairikhali Municipality was traveling from Chhepare to Chisapani on Monday. The Jajarkot-Dolpa road section was so scary that she couldn't enjoy the view outside but rather concentrated her thoughts inside the van.
It was not comfortable inside as there was hardly any space to move. She thought it was a matter of just a few hours and then she would reach her destination. However, she saw something that sent chills down her spines. She felt like getting off the vehicle.
“There were four others besides the driver's seat,” Sujata said. “When I saw the driver sitting very uncomfortably along with those many people, I was simply shocked,” she added.
Wagle narrated that neither the driver nor the passengers seemed to have taken the matter seriously.
“It was not the first time I was traveling in that route. I have taken the route several times,” Sujata said. “And we always have to compromise with safety due to very poor management. However, seeing so many people in the driver's seat, I lost my nerves. I was scared to death,” she added.
The vehicle she took has only seven seats for passenger. However, it is very common for the vans to carry extra passengers. Even small additional chairs are used to accommodate more passengers, Wagle reported. She stated that even passengers do not take it seriously.
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“People are in hurry and they are not sure whether they would get another vehicle or not anytime soon if they wait,” she explained. “Due to this reason, passengers get jam packed inside small jeeps,” she added.
However, the scene on Monday made her think very seriously. She questioned the worth of traveling such a risky journey.
“On that day, I raised the issue. I told other passengers that we need to stop the vehicle. There were already 18 passengers in the vehicle meant for just seven people. And four of them were simply in the front row besides the driver,” she said. “But nobody intervened,” she added.
Her narration does not surprise anyone. Passengers do sit at the roof top as well as with the drivers, locals say.
“We are used to traveling like sheep or goats. But the administration does not care. The transport entrepreneurs look only for profit,” noted Binita Malla of Kuse Rural Municipality.
According to Malla, small vehicles that ply along Chhepare of Rukum to Radibazar drive in a very deadly manner. It feels like the vehicles would veer off the cliff any time.
“Drivers share seat with passengers. It's already a kind of norm here. They only concentrate on adding more and more passengers,” Malla narrated.
When Republica's team inspected the vehicles, it was found that the front row besides the driver's seat was shared sometimes by as many as five people. And the small vans were carrying as many as 20 passengers.
The dilapidated Jajarkot -Dolpa road section scares anyone. The terrain and the cliffs are good to look at but equally challenging for vehicles. Even skilled and careful drivers would find it hard to ply the route, according to Malla. “And they drive so carelessly. But we are compelled to keep quiet, as we need even such service,” Malla said.
Rukum Police Chief DSP Rajendra Dhamala meanwhile claimed that the condition is not so pathetic. Police have been doing regular inspection and has taken action against those who violate traffic rules, he said.
“We do not spare anyone who violate rules. We have check points to see if the rules are followed or not,” he said. “We give instructions to transport entrepreneurs; we talk to them time and again. But yes, things may go wrong if we don't keep vigil,” he added.
Dhamala further said that police will take strict action against careless driving in view of the festival of Dashain. “Now, we will need to check things more strictly due to the festive season,” he said.
Meanwhile, public vehicle driver Himal Jaisi termed it as drivers' compulsion to carry more passengers than the capacity of the vehicle. “No matter what they say, we are giving service to the passengers,” he claimed. “There is limited number of vehicles in this route. If we don't carry extra passengers, the vehicles won't be enough for them,” he added.
Jaisi said that around 16 vans ply through the route.
