KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 7

The number of people leaving Kathmandu for their hometowns to celebrate Dashain has surged, making it difficult to secure long-distance public transport and air tickets.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Bharat Bahadur Bohara, Chief of the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, reported that 363,164 people left the Kathmandu Valley between September 30 and October 6 for Bada Dashain. In just one night, from 6:00 PM Saturday to Sunday morning, 16,465 people departed.

Traffic congestion has worsened at checkpoints and highways, with vehicles stuck due to the increasing number of travelers leaving the valley for the festival. Drivers have pointed out that roads are damaged or washed away in several areas, creating significant difficulties for both drivers and passengers.

Lokesh Singh, a Kailali resident, expressed that many citizens were unable to leave the valley for Dashain because they couldn't obtain bus or plane tickets. He said, 'Bus and air tickets are not easily available. I managed to secure a seat because I booked and paid in advance.' He added, 'My friends are still in Kathmandu because they couldn't get tickets. It's terrible.'

Passengers are also being forced to pay inflated prices for both bus and air travel due to the holiday demand.

Deepak Bahadur Khatri observed that some long-distance travelers at Gongabu Bus Park were heading to Achham from Kathmandu, with some even resorting to riding on bus bonnets due to the lack of available seats.