KALIKOT: Service seekers in Kalikot have been hit due to the early departure of government employees for Dashain.

Chiefs of some offices left the district two weeks prior to the festival. Available today were only the CDO and the District Education Officer.

"Only lower level staffers such as the peon were present in most offices when we visited them," said Harsha Bahadur Shahi, former District Development Committee chairman. Peons were available since they are local residents, he added.

The official vacation for Dashain starts September 25. "The chiefs left early citing that they could be delayed due to transportation problems," CDO Pitambar Ghimire said.

"I came to the district headquarters walking for two days to transfer the land ownership. I am compelled to return without any gain since the land revenue officer is away," said Gorakh Bahadur Bom, a resident of Dhaulagoha-5.

"The staffers leaving before Dashain generally report to duties only after the Tihar festival," said Padam Bahadur Shahi, district chairman of Civil Servants' Association.