The annual Dashain migration, a period typically marked by joyful homecomings, descended into a severe travel crisis this year as heavy rains and landslides compounded the usual challenges, stranding thousands and pushing the nation’s transport system to its brink.
The festival period, which sees a massive exodus from the federal capital to hometowns across Nepal, is perennially difficult. However, the natural disaster that struck from Asoj 17 to 20—immediately after Vijayadashami—exacerbated the situation, causing human casualties, blocking major highways, and disrupting air travel for an entire day.
A Perfect Storm: Nature Worsens Annual Woes
The crisis peaked on Asoj 18 when Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) canceled all domestic flights due to adverse weather. This cancellation created a domino effect, causing severe scheduling pressures for days.
“Even in normal conditions, air flights used to be very busy during Dashain. This time, the natural disaster caused even more suffering,” said Manoj Karki, Chairman of the Airline Operators Association. “It became even more difficult for those who had reached their destinations to return. Air flights increased due to road blockages.”
The blockage of key highways like the BP Highway forced road passengers to seek air travel, creating an unprecedented surge in demand. Airlines were overwhelmed, operating flights as late as 2:00 to 3:00 AM to manage the backlog.
By the Numbers: A Record-Breaking Air Travel Crunch
According to TIA statistics, the ten-day period from Asoj 12 to 21 saw a staggering 134,515 passengers travel by air, with 74,591 departing and 59,544 arriving in Kathmandu. A total of 2,548 flights were operated.
The pressure was immense, with a single-day record of 19,255 domestic passengers on Asoj 20, as confirmed by airport spokesperson Rinji Sherpa.
Airlines Struggle Under Immense Pressure
Airline officials reported extreme difficulties in managing the twin challenges of weather and demand.
Buddha Air, operating around 11,000 flights on Asoj 20 and 21 alone, faced significant operational hurdles. “When all flights were canceled on one day, it became difficult to manage flights for three or four days,” said Rupesh Joshi, Buddha Air’s Marketing Director.
Similar sentiments were echoed by other carriers. Sudarshan Bartaula, spokesperson for Yeti Airlines, noted that last year’s travel was smoother as the monsoon had ended before Dashain. This year, the “sudden rain caused problems in flights due to adverse weather conditions.”
Anil Manandhar, Corporate Manager of Shree Airlines, highlighted the management challenges, stating that even with added flights, delays and passenger pressure for tickets were immense.
Road Travel: Exorbitant Fares and Long Detours
For those on the road, the journey was equally harrowing. With key routes blocked, travelers faced long, arduous detours. A typically 8-10 hour journey from Dharan to Kathmandu turned into a 20-hour ordeal.
Passengers also faced exorbitant price gouging. Fares for routes like Dharan-Kathmandu and Katari-Kathmandu were reported to have doubled or even tripled, with passengers paying up to Rs. 4,000 and Rs. 3,000, respectively.
A Call for Systemic Solutions
This year’s Dashain travel crisis underscores a recurring and escalating problem. While the natural disaster was an acute trigger, it exposed the chronic vulnerabilities in Nepal’s transport infrastructure. The limited number of aircraft, insufficient flights, and fragile road networks annually create a bottleneck.
The events of Dashain 2081 serve as a stark reminder for concerned bodies to prioritize making air travel more accessible and to build more resilient transportation systems, ensuring that the journey home for Nepal’s greatest festival does not remain a yearly ordeal.
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