Passengers vandalise ticket counter at Siliguri Junction bus stand amid shortage of buses and long queues

Siliguri, 22nd April: A chaotic situation was reported at Siliguri Junction bus stand on Tuesday morning after angry passengers allegedly vandalised the ticket counter over the non-availability of buses.

According to reports, a large crowd gathered at the bus stand since morning due to the rush of passengers trying to travel ahead of the upcoming elections. However, with insufficient buses in operation, many commuters were left waiting in long queues for hours without getting tickets or seats.

Frustration among passengers escalated, leading some of them to allegedly enter the office and vandalise the ticket counter. Computer systems and other equipment were reportedly damaged, triggering tension in the bus stand area.

Speaking on the situation, NBSTC in-charge Samir Sarkar said that several buses have been deployed elsewhere as per Election Commission directives, which has affected normal services. As a result, additional services could not be operated on schedule, leading to passenger inconvenience.

Following the incident, bus services were disrupted for some time. Police from Siliguri Pradhan Nagar Police Station along with central forces reached the spot to bring the situation under control.