Jhapa, February 27:

Strikes and the risk of vandalism have forced passenger buses to use the Indian route to reach Kathmandu from Jhapa.

The journey to Kathmandu via that route would take three days and the fare has shot up to as high as Rs 3,200. “It has become difficult to take passengers to their destinations due to repeated bandhs and strikes and increased risk of vandalism of the vehicles, so the buses are using the Indian route,” vice-chairperson of the Jhapa chapter of the Mechi Bus Entrepreneurs’ Association (MBEA), Deepak Tamang, said.

“The buses bound for Kathmandu from Jhapa first go to West Bengal then to Gorakhpur and enter Nepal from Bhairahawa and pass through Butwal, Naudanda, Pokhara and Mugling to reach Kathmandu,” he said, adding, “It takes three days to reach Kathmandu from Jhapa and fare per individual is IRS 2000 (NPR 3200).”

In Kakarvitta alone some 300 passengers wishing to travel to Kathmandu and western part of the country are stranded everyday.