As thousands of devotees gather for the month-long Nyingthig Yazhi oral transmission at Kuenselphodrang in Thimphu, concerns are rising over the safety of the city bus services, especially during evening pick-ups. Despite the presence of motor vehicle inspectors from the Bhutan Construction and Transport Authority, the large turnout has led to crowding and rushes.
As the day’s programme concludes at around 5 PM, the scene at Kuenselphodrang changes.
The atmosphere quickly becomes chaotic, as hundreds of devotees, particularly elder citizens, rush towards the city buses to secure a seat and find a ride home.
There are ten city buses deployed. Each of them carries 50 passengers per trip and typically completes three trips in the evening.
To manage the crowd and maintain safety, Bhutan Construction and Transport Authority, BCTA has motor vehicle inspectors on-site.
They have begun manually counting passengers before allowing them in from Tuesday.
A City Bus Driver, Sangay Wangchuk said, “We count the passengers, and as soon as 50 board the bus, we close the door. If we take more than the capacity, it becomes unsafe and inconvenient. Some people assume that we are carrying more passengers than our capacity, but if we count, it is within the limit.”
“There is a bus service available, but due to the large crowd, we worry that elderly people like us might get trampled. That’s why we choose to walk,” said Dreygang, one of the devotees attending the oral transmission.
“The programme ends around 5 PM, and transportation problems arise due to the crowd. There is always a rush, and we are concerned for our safety,” said Galey Wangchuk, another devotee.
“People rush to board the bus, and we elderly people get pushed around, so we avoid using the bus service,” said Wangmo, a devotee.
“I never take the bus when the programme ends. The rush to board is risky, so I either share a lift or walk,” said Ngawang.
Officials from the City Bus Service said that they also deploy additional buses when necessary.
A joint monitoring team from the City Bus Service, BCTA and traffic police also ensures that the buses are regularly maintained, reducing the risk of mechanical failures and enhancing passenger safety.
For now, the safety of passengers remains a concern, highlighting the need for better crowd control and more efficient transport arrangements during large religious gatherings.
Deki Lhazom
Edited by Sangay Chezom
