KATHMANDU, Sept 21: The self-immolation attempt by 25-year-old public bus driver Dawa Lama, who allegedly set fire to his bus in Tripureshwor on Sunday, has raised fresh questions about public frustration, despair and the responsiveness of state institutions.
Lama is currently undergoing treatment. The incident has also revived concerns about why some citizens feel compelled to resort to extreme actions to draw the attention of authorities to their grievances.
Gen Z activist Ravikiran Hamal said the recurrence of such incidents should serve as a serious warning to the state. Recalling the recent case involving Ganesh Nepali in Tripureshwor, he said the failure to address citizens’ concerns in a timely manner can push people to the brink of despair.
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Hamal said he had learned that Lama was involved in a minor dispute with traffic police in the Thapathali area before the incident. Referring to both cases, he questioned how citizens are treated by various state agencies.
“The circumstances of the two incidents may be different, but they raise a broader question about how citizens experience the state,” Hamal said.
According to him, the state should not have to wait for people to take extreme measures before recognizing their distress. He said citizens’ grievances should be addressed through regular institutional mechanisms that listen to concerns, understand problems and seek solutions.
Hamal wished Lama a speedy recovery and said saving his life should be the immediate priority. He also called for an impartial investigation into the incident and urged the government to determine what circumstances may have driven Lama to take such an extreme step.
According to police, Lama was rescued after officers broke open the door of the bus following the incident in front of the Department of Passports in Tripureshwor. He was subsequently taken to the Burn Center in Kirtipur for treatment.
Police said an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
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