Life Among Crisis

Having been late for college once again, the thought of writing this article came to my mind. I'm a calculative person and sometimes being calculative works against me. My first class starts at 6:30am, it takes me 30 mins to get to Ratnapark on bus and from there it takes me 15 mins to walk to my college in Dillibazar (15 mins because I have long legs and thus take long steps). So, I need to leave exactly at 5:45, which I usually do. But despite leaving at my usual time, I'm late for my class these days. And the reason behind it: "THE NEVER ENDING PETROLEUM CRISIS OF NEPAL".

Despite the price hike, the supply of petroleum has not eased. Most of the buses are found in queues to buy diesel thus there are fewer buses running on the route. Public are affected greatly by it. These days, when I get to the bus-stop, there are about hundred people already waiting for the bus (Kirtipur is the place where maximum students reside and over hundred people can easily be seen at the bus-stop when there are no buses). As soon as a bus is in view, people start running towards it. Waiting for the bus to stop is not an option if you really want to get on it. You have to be stronger and faster than the rest to be able to get on the first bus (I usually have to wait for 3rd or 4th bus). There's a lot of pushing and elbowing required to get on the bus (I guess pinching would work too but I haven't tried it and I wouldn't suggest it as well). Even after all this trouble, you have to be immensely lucky to get a seat. If u do get a seat, its great but if you don't, then you have to pray that you don't become "gundruk" by the time you get off if. This is the everyday story of the Nepalese who take public bus to schools, colleges or work. Comparatively, the ones who own bikes/cars have to go through lesser trouble but even they have to stand in long queues (which may last upto a few hours and sometimes all day) to buy petrol every few weeks.

However great the problem of transportation seems, it is nothing compared to the problem of LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas). The shortage of cooking gas has been going on for last 2 and half months and the situation just isn't getting better. At my home, one cylinder has been lying empty for about a month and the next has very little gas left on it. And, I'm really starting to worry. What would we do if this cylinder runs out of gas? I don't know how to use the traditional "chulo". So, we no longer drink boiled water and I don't even drink my day time tea anymore. We also use rice-cooker whenever possible but with 10hrs of loadshedding a day, it is not possible to use rice-cooker for every meal. 

I've been reading about the people who lived with their relatives and also of the ones who paid Rs1000 extra and bought gas on black and many more who stand in queues all day long and return home in the evening with the same empty cylinder. There are people who are living on dry food and people who eat in hotels because there is no gas to cook. And having read their stories, I'm getting even more worried. I just hope our last cylinder of gas doesn't run out before the supply eases. *fingers crossed*

-Appu

Arpana Shrestha is a 18 year old with too much to say who just wishes to have her tea in peace.