Travails Of Dashain Travel

Every year during the festival season from Asoj to Kartik, there is a mass movement of people from cities to villages in Nepal. Major cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara, Birgunj, Biratnagar, and so on are highly populated by people in search of better educational and employment opportunities. And when Dashain and Tihar nears, they travel in droves mainly via the public transportations back to their villages and towns to observe the festivals. However, this festive season, tragedy struck the nation ahead of Dashain as the torrential rain wreaked havoc, leading to nationwide floods and landslides. 

Hundreds of people lost their lives and many were injured while properties were destroyed. Passengers were grimly stranded on highways as roads were blocked due to landslides and inundated rivers. In a season of festivities when people look forward to celebration as they exchange festive greetings, this year Dashain turned desolate. The nation mourned as the festive spirit dampened. 

On the fated day of September 28, roads flooded in Kathmandu rather profusely. As the houses were inundated, people moved to higher stories of their houses for safety while they prayed for the rain to let up. Since landslides blocked highways, people in Kathmandu who wanted to travel back to their villages were left with no choice but to stay in the valley. Yet, despite the grim circumstances, Nepalis did their best to put up a courageous stance this Dashain. The resilience of those affected by the floods and landslides are to be praised as it is no easy task.

However, it is during such incidents that the woes of natural disasters are brought to light in Nepal. They highlight the nation’s lack of preparation, outdated policies and poor mitigation measures during disasters. It especially affects the transportation services that are one of the firsts to be hit during the monsoon. It doesn’t help that roads are highly unsafe in Nepal due to its rugged geographical terrains. Especially during the monsoon season, there is news of road accidents at an alarming rate. The loss of lives is tragic which could have been prevented. Nepal’s highways are thus considered hazardous. The other option is to fly but Nepal’s aviation sector is tainted as well due to frequent accidents. 

It might seem like a hopeless situation for Nepalis. Here, the lack of necessary protocol, steps and policies on behalf of government is frustrating. While the citizens are bearing the brunt of poor road infrastructures and outdated transportation services, politicians are busy filling their pockets. No wonder Nepalis take flight to foreign shores at the slightest opportunity while those remaining within the nation hope to take leave as well. Citizens who choose to stay and work in Nepal struggle with the lack of basic infrastructure.

 They face old, decrepit and deteriorated public vehicles that are perilous in national highways prone to natural disasters. And when it comes to Dashain and Tihar, passengers on transit bear the heavy brunt each year.   The fact is most people rely on the public transportation to travel nationally, especially during festive season. Their frustration towards such services could be greatly relieved if the Nepal government took necessary steps with a major overhaul towards effective road management and disaster management policies for a safer transit.