West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Siliguri, April 22: Tension flared at the Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus on Wednesday morning as hundreds of stranded passengers staged protests and vandalised parts of the terminal following an acute shortage of buses ahead of the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections.

Since early morning, long queues of passengers were seen waiting anxiously for buses to various districts across North Bengal. However, as hours passed without adequate services, frustration mounted rapidly. Many commuters, desperate to return to their hometowns to cast their votes on April 23, found themselves stranded without any clarity on when buses would arrive.

Eyewitnesses reported that passengers bound for districts such as Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar had lined up well before sunrise, anticipating heavy rush ahead of polling day. Yet the number of operational buses was significantly lower than usual. As waiting times stretched and announcements failed to provide reassurance, tempers flared.

Section of the agitated crowd allegedly began vandalising parts of the terminus premises, damaging ticket counters, computer systems and other infrastructure. For a brief period, the bus terminal resembled a battleground, with shouting passengers and broken fixtures highlighting the scale of anger among the commuters. Many alleged that they had been waiting for hours without any official explanation.

Several passengers said they were facing serious difficulties due to the disruption. Daily wage earners, office-goers and families travelling with children expressed distress over missing crucial appointments and, in many cases, the possibility of being unable to reach their native districts in time to vote. With polling scheduled across North Bengal in the first phase, the rush to return home had intensified significantly.

Large number of buses had been requisitioned for election duty following directives from the Election Commission. The diversion of vehicles for polling-related logistics led to a sharp reduction in regular passenger services, resulting in the unexpected transport crisis. Officials maintained that the temporary disruption was part of arrangements to ensure smooth conduct of elections across the region.

Police and central security forces rushed to the spot after receiving information about the unrest. Security personnel intervened to disperse the crowd and prevent further damage to property. While the situation was eventually brought under control, resentment among stranded passengers remained palpable.

The incident underscores the logistical challenges that accompany large-scale electoral exercises in the state, particularly in regions like North Bengal where public transport plays a critical role in inter-district connectivity. With thousands depending on state-run and private buses for daily travel, the sudden shortage has once again highlighted the delicate balance between election preparedness and public convenience.

Authorities are expected to review arrangements to prevent further disruption. For now, however, many passengers at Siliguri’s main bus terminus are left grappling with uncertainty, hoping that additional services will be restored before voting begins.