Kathmandu, October 7
With Dashain celebrations approaching, an increasing number of people are leaving Kathmandu for their hometowns, leading to a shortage of public transport and air tickets. According to DIG Bharat Bahadur Bohara, Chief of the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, 363,164 people left the Kathmandu Valley between September 30 and October 6 to celebrate Bada Dashain.
On Saturday evening alone, 16,465 people departed from Kathmandu, and traffic is now heavily congested at checkpoints and highways as more travellers head out for the festivities. Drivers have reported difficulties due to damaged roads, which are creating delays and challenges for both drivers and passengers.
Lokesh Singh, a resident of Kailali, shared his frustration about the lack of transportation options, saying, “Many people couldn’t go home even during Dashain due to the unavailability of bus and air tickets.” Singh was able to travel only because he had booked and paid for his ticket in advance, while many of his friends were left behind in Kathmandu.
High ticket prices are also an issue, with passengers forced to pay inflated rates. Some, like Deepak Bahadur Khatri, have resorted to extreme measures, such as travelling in bus bonnets, just to reach home for the holiday.
