Motihari, May 16: Getting married is proving to be tough for the people in the district, thanks to the paucity of vehicles. Most of the vehicles are being used for election purpose for the ongoing panchayat polls. The 10-phase elections, which commenced on April 20, would conclude on May 21.

The situation has become a cause of concern for families of brides and grooms, who had scheduled marriages to be held during this period. The paucity of vehicles has forced several people to solemnise the marriage of their sons and daughters in local temples.

Temples of Lord Shiva at Areraj, Bansapti Devi at Semra, Gayatri Mandir, Shakti Peeth and Mahavir Mandir in Motihari and the Raxaul-based Manokamna Mandir and Gayatri Mandir are some of the temples where the marriages are being conducted. Marriages are even conducted at Gahwa Mai temple in neighbouring Birganj (Nepal).

Shambhu Yadav, Jitan Manjhi, Harihar Prasad Verma, Yogendra Prasad Gupta, Som Nath Tewari and Yodha Paswan are few among those who have got the marriages of their children and relatives solemnised since this the marriage season started.

Most of the commercial vehicles are on election duty and the rest have been taken off road for fear of being seized. People are not finding enough vehicles for transportation of the marriage party or even to carry the bride and groom to the wedding venue.

Arvind Kumar, who runs a transport business, said vehicles are not available, and even if people manage to get one, they are being charged exorbitant rates. He added Scorpio, Xylo, Bolero and Tata Sumo have the highest demand in the market.

He said usually around 500 commercial and private vehicles are always seen parked at Raxaul bus stand.

According to sources, the administration and vehicle owners are responsible for this vehicle crunch. “Despite Election Commission’s direction not to seize private vehicles for election purposes, the administration is very often forced to do that,” said the sub-divisional magistrate of Raxaul, Jitendra Sah.

According to legal provisions, the transport department is entitled to fine Rs 1,200 on those found plying their personal vehicles for commercial purposes, said sources at the district transport office.