Poll blues: Bus crisis, steep cab fare spark chaos in Hills

Darjeeling: With fears over deletions of nearly 40,000 Gorkha voters during the SIR process driving people to return home at any cost, the road to the Hills turned chaotic at Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus on the eve of the phase 1 polls. A crippling bus shortage, soaring fares and swelling crowds combined to trigger tension, vandalism and the deployment of central forces.What should have been a routine 80-km journey from Siliguri to Darjeeling became a race against time for thousands of anxious voters. Many, driven by uncertainty over their names on the electoral roll, rushed back from across the country to ensure they could vote — but found themselves stranded for hours as buses disappeared from regular service.As tempers flared, sections of the crowd vandalised ticket counters and damaged computers of the North Bengal State Transport Corporation. The situation escalated rapidly, prompting the deployment of central forces and senior police officials to restore order. Though tensions eased later in the day, normal services have yet to fully resume.Officials attributed the disruption to the large-scale requisitioning of buses by EC, which has hit connectivity across North Bengal, including to Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar and Darjeeling hills. "This has led to long waiting hours," said NBSTC in-charge Samir Sarkar.Passengers claimed private vehicles began charging between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 per seat — far above normal. Drivers reportedly cited road closures and diversions via Mirik. "I came from another state, spending extra on airfare just to vote. Now I don't know if I'll make it home" said Utpal Mondal, one of those waiting in a long queue.Sanjeev Chettri, who travelled from Bengaluru, said, "I didn't want to miss voting, but getting a vehicle from Siliguri became a struggle. The govt should have arranged transport support."Kamlesh Rai, a resident of Ghum who works in Kolkata, said, "Many believe names have been deleted. So, out of fear, many are rushing back to vote."."But transporters defended the fare hike, citing longer routes, fuel cost and traffic curbs. .Darjeeling RTO Milton Das said: "We will send a team to verify the situation and take action. No formal complaint has been received yet."
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