Surge in Travelers Leaving Kathmandu for Dashain Festivities Causes Ticket Shortages and Congestion

The number of people leaving Kathmandu for their hometowns to celebrate Dashain has surged, leading to difficulties in securing long-distance public transport and air tickets. According to Deputy Inspector General of Police Bharat Bahadur Bohara, the Chief of Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, a staggering 363,164 individuals have departed from the Kathmandu Valley between September 30 and October 6 for the Bada Dashain festivities.

On the night of Saturday to Sunday alone, 16,465 people left the capital. The increase in travelers has resulted in congestion at checkpoints and highways, with vehicles often stuck in long queues.

Drivers have reported that damaged and washed-out roads in certain areas have significantly hampered travel, adding to the woes of both drivers and passengers.

Lokesh Singh, a local resident of Kailali, noted that many people have been unable to return home for Dashain in previous years due to the challenges of obtaining bus and plane tickets. “Tickets for buses and flights haven’t been easily available. I was fortunate to get a seat because I booked and paid for my ticket earlier,” he shared. He lamented that many of his friends remain stranded in Kathmandu due to the lack of available tickets.

With demand high, passengers are now forced to pay inflated prices for bus and air travel during the festive season. Deepak Bahadur Khatri observed long-distance travelers at Gongbu Bus Park in Kathmandu who were attempting to travel to Achham, some even squeezed into the bus bonnets due to a lack of space.