FUEL CRISIS, PASSENGERS STRANDED

By Nisha Chettri (TNI Kalimpong) ~ Edited By Pradiptamay Saha (TNI Siliguri)

Webdesk, TNI Kalimpong, 4th July, 2015: The blocked highway undoubtedly paralyzed the activity of Kalimpong town as the mode of transportation was hindered since last two days because of the lingering fuel crisis here. The Ratiram Bakshi all petrol pump located in 11th mile has been dried since 2nd July (night) as the lorry of Bharat Petroleum could not be transported because of the disconnected route of the National Highway. The 8th Mile Petrol Pump was also dried and people were compelled to refill their tanks at the black marketers stall which were also sealed on by afternoon. This crisis imbalanced other chores of the town as the passengers were stranded and some of the drivers were restrained from their regular job. Moreover, Saturday is the haat-day in Kalimpong and people from the outskirts go to haat-bazar for grocery shopping but the dried petrol made some of the vehicles stay home which made the passengers wait for hours in the general stops like Delo-fatak, sangsay-fatak, homes and 11th mile-fatak. Waiting for taxis and gootay (the regular service Maruti-van to places that charges 2-/30 rupees per head) are the regular scenes of such places as people prefer gootay-gari in place of taxis or buses. ‘We have been waiting for hours and no sight of cabs can be seen’ said Pramila Chettri while she was flipping her umbrella in the drizzle in Sangsay fatak, 14th Mile, this morning. Meanwhile, Shrawan Kumar Agrawal, the Manager of Ratiram Banshilall petrol pump, (11th mile) said, ‘Never in history have we faced such crisis, we were out of fuel at times but we would immediately refill it the next day.’ On 27th June the fuel pump had refilled its tank with 6,000 liters of Petrol and on 30th June 9,000 liters of Diesel respectively. However, the diesel and petrol were ceased at the same day. The fuel filling attendant later spoke to this journalist; he said that this is the first time the pump has gone dry for days. ‘We were aware of the Highways condition, so were the drivers, the ones who used to refill the tank with 2-3 liters ended refilling their tanks by 10-15 liters, we can’t deny our customers’ said the attendant. The manager later said that the (fuel) lorry drivers are afraid to drive Lava’s route because of the narrow road, however, it was known from the sources that the fuels would be delivered and unloaded by evening in the petrol pumps here.

Photo: Nisha Chettri (TNI)