Thimpu to Mal Bazar

24th Oct:

9:00
We left the lodge after a nice breakfast, only to find my bike had a flat tyre. I had planned to reach Darjeeling the same day covering 350km in 10 hours. All ruined now. The repair took 1 hour and we left at 11 am, charges for repair are very costly, it took 530 bucks.

We were moving very fast, and Nilanjan missed a turn and went straight to a road which lead to roadblock ahead, I had to chase him and ask him to return back, chasing a RE by Pulsar 180 is not easy on good roads. We crossed first check point Chokha.

 

 

I had to refill fuel so I went ahead to Chukka, the view was nice in the morning, I waited for my friends to come for a long time, meanwhile meeting other bikers from Calcutta.
As I thought that its going to be over, the real deal began.

 

 

 
12:00 THE ACCIDENT.

I was rolling at 60kmph downhill with engine shut and suddenly at a sharp corner there was a little girl at the middle of the road, she was crossing and I turned left so that we don’t collide but another car from the right side came and she ran to left side. I tried my best to not crush her under my bike, steered right and applied all breaks but she got hit on the head by my left hand which was positioned on the handlebar, flew away and hit the jeep and fell on the ground.
My mind was numb, as I didn’t know what happened and I had many thoughts running in my mind but could not concentrate on any one. I was abused heavily by the car driver on my reckless driving. However, I simply went to check for the girl, and see if she was bleeding anywhere. Luckily she did not bleed, her parents thoroughly checked. Fear of police case, imprisonment and a heavy fine ran in my mind.
They were arguing me to take to police, but I felt it was not completely my mistake, no one should leave a child on a highway. Still as a foreigner I might have to face heavy charges, even the bike wasn’t mine, it could be seized, then again I would have to pay double the fine and there was no chance of running away as one phone call to Phuentsholing police would warn them about the situation and I would not be allowed to leave.

 

 

I asked for a price, 10000 was demanded, any try of negotiation went futile as police case would have been the other option, which in no way I could handle. So, I paid 10000 at Gedu and gave the little girl a chocolate bar :), the father meanwhile had a look on face, saying “I could have demanded more” :P. Then I drove my bike as fast I could.

 

 

 

15:00

It began to rain but I did not stop, and at Phuentsholing check point I surpassed the checking as an accident had occurred between 3 cars and the security was more concerned about that. Finally I reached Jaigaon, crossed the Bhutan border to India and smoked a ciggarette to relax. As it was over. Now I felt safe and remembered the girls face and the jeep number BHT – C 7310.
Reflecting on the situation, I felt that I should have driven slow, 50kmph is the safe option in mountains, specially downhill.

16:00
I waited for Nilanjan and Abhishek to reach Jaigaon, they came an hour and half later. We now had plan to reach Mal bazar and stay there to cut the distance for the next day. I was made fun of about the accident later 😐
I guess something’s are unavoidable.

21:00
So, we reached mal bazar and took rest.