GUWAHATI: With the onset of Bohag Bihu and the upcoming panchayat elections in Assam, passengers travelling from Guwahati to districts like Mangaldoi are experiencing an overwhelming transport crisis. On Sunday, a routine journey turned into a nightmarish ordeal for many as buses were seen operating at more than triple their seating capacity, leaving passengers gasping for air and struggling with discomfort.
“I could barely breathe,” said a commuter who travelled from Guwahati to Mangaldoi. “The bus was so overcrowded that people were standing shoulder-to-shoulder, pushing and shoving just to find space to stand. It felt like a war zone.”
The situation was further aggravated by the uncivil behaviour of the bus staff. Passengers reported that the conductor shouted at commuters and made inappropriate and unnecessary remarks. “Instead of managing the crowd responsibly, the conductor was verbally abusing passengers. It was humiliating and added to the already suffocating atmosphere,” the same commuter added.
This alarming state of public transport has highlighted long-standing concerns about passenger safety, transport regulation, and the humane treatment of commuters—issues that remain inadequately addressed year after year. While seasonal congestion during Bohag Bihu is expected due to the mass return of people to their hometowns, the present scenario seems unprecedented in scale and severity.
The crisis has been worsened by the reallocation of passenger vehicles ahead of the panchayat elections. “A significant number of buses and private vehicles are being used for election-related duties, leading to a shortage on regular routes,” aware of the situation a bus driver said.
Despite multiple attempts, GPlus tried to contact the enforcement department of the District Transport Office (DTO), but officials were unavailable for any comment.
Social media platforms have also begun to flood with images and complaints regarding the poor state of travel in Assam during the festive season, with many users demanding urgent action and better planning from transport authorities.
The absence of regulatory oversight during high-demand periods, particularly around festivals and elections, not only affects passenger convenience but also poses serious safety risks. The public demands urgent deploy of additional buses and enforce strict limits on passenger loads to avoid potential disasters.
For now, thousands of Assamese citizens returning home for Bohag Bihu are left to endure this inhumane travel experience—packed into buses, with no respite in sight.
