Sambriddha Sapkota, 26, a resident of Meghauli in Chitwan, has returned from Japan on a month's vacation to celebrate Dashain with her family. But she has been stuck in Kathmandu for the last three days after the recent floods and landslides caused damage to highways.

“I could not manage the flight ticket to Bharatupur despite my best effort,” Sapkota told the Post.

Sapkota is one among thousands of travellers who have been unable to travel to and from Kathmandu easily for the past few days.

The persistent rain over three days last week damaged the highway from Kathmandu to Narayanghat, leaving thousands of travellers stranded. Besides, most of the highways that pass through Koshi, Madhesh and Bagmati provinces have been damaged, making it difficult for the people to reach their destinations.

According to Nepal Police, most of the roads that connect these provinces with the four others in the country’s west are either completely damaged or are open only partially.

“We advise people who are travelling to take updates on the road situation from the nearby police station before heading out,” Dhan Bahadur Karki, spokesperson for Nepal Police, told the Post.

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology says that the monsoon this year is expected to be prolonged beyond the normal exit date of October 2.

On Wednesday and Thursday, there are chances of light rainfall in many places of Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati and Gandaki provinces, meteorologist Rojan Lamichhane of the department told the Post. “However, it won’t be as heavy as last week’s rain.”

There are chances of rainfall till Dashain, Lamichhane said.

With rainfall likely till Dashain and the roads not in good shape, the National Federation of Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs was mulling over cancelling advance ticket bookings that started last Saturday. However, after a ten-point agreement with various government agencies on Tuesday evening, transport operators backed off from their previous consideration.

Saroj Sitaula, senior vice-president of the transport operators’ federation, says they are considering closing the ticket bookings for Dashain which opened on Saturday. “In the given circumstances, we cannot take passengers to their destination safely,” he said. “There is no option but to close the bookings that were opened for Dashain.

“In normal situations, people would start returning to their villages from the first day of Dashain, that is Ghatasthapana, October 3 this year. This time, we doubt there will be easy vehicular movement even from Ghatasthapana due to the poor condition of the roads in most parts of the country,” Situla told the Post earlier on Tuesday.

The ten-point deal also urges people to travel only when it is urgent. The fourth point of the deal concerns ticket bookings. It says transport operators have agreed to allow the people who have booked tickets so far to travel to their destinations. Further bookings would depend on the condition of roads.

Another point is about urging the home ministry to rescue transport workers who are stuck in various places around the country.

There is also an understanding to request people to cross the Kathmandu-Narayanghat road in the daytime if they have to travel for Dashain.

There is also the possibility of black-marketing of tickets at this festival, says Sushil Babu Dhakal, spokesperson for the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.

“If this happens, the ministry will take action in coordination with other relevant government agencies as per the law.”

More than a million people travel to their home districts from Kathmandu Valley for Dashain, Tihar and Chhath festivals every year. Before the festivals begin, the rainy season is usually over. However, there are occasional disturbances caused by heavy rains.