Indra Khadka, a driver from Damak, Jhapa, stranded for ten days near Kaldhunga on the BP Highway due to landslides and floods, has given up waiting for rescue and started his journey home on foot.

Khadka, who was travelling towards Kathmandu with passengers, was trapped after floods and landslides blocked the highway near Roshi Khola. After waiting for over a week and no signs of help, he decided to abandon his vehicle and walk home to celebrate Dashain.

“I waited ten days, hoping for rescue, but no help came. I’m now heading home for Dashain, leaving my vehicle behind,” Khadka said, visibly exhausted after trekking 7 kilometers along steep cliffs and riverbanks.

He explained that attempts to move his vehicle to a safer spot near Mangaltar Police Post were unsuccessful. “We were left with no choice but to wait, unsure of what would happen. As Dashain approached and no rescue efforts were made, I decided to leave, taking the vehicle keys with me,” he added. Khadka said local authorities showed little interest in safeguarding the stranded vehicles.

While some passengers were airlifted by the government, others risked their lives by navigating treacherous terrains to reach their destinations. Khadka, along with other drivers, remained stranded as larger vehicles attempted to cross the flood-affected Roshi Khola, while smaller ones couldn’t take the risk.

Truck driver Arjun Danuwar from Udayapur shared a similar experience. Trapped near Chaukidanda, he walked for seven hours to reach Mamti. “I couldn’t keep paying exorbitant prices—400 rupees for a simple meal, 100 rupees for instant noodles. Eventually, I had to abandon the truck and start walking,” he said, adding that the journey through cliffs and rocky paths took much longer than expected.

Many stranded drivers had initially held out hope after hearing reports that efforts were being made to repair the damaged roads. However, after ten days without any rescue attempt, they were left disillusioned.

Chet Prasad Mainali, another driver from Jhapa, expressed his frustration at the government's lack of interest in rescuing them. “Some drivers are still waiting for rescue, while others have crossed the Roshi Khola by themselves. I had never experienced such hardship in my life,” he said.

Mainali also mentioned that his family, desperate for him to return home for Dashain, had been pleading with him to leave the vehicle behind and return. “If the government had at least guaranteed the safety of our vehicles, we wouldn’t have to worry so much during Dashain,” he added, criticising local police for not taking responsibility for the stranded vehicles.

Shivaram Khadka, a transport operator from Sindhuli, revealed that many drivers had been sent money to stay with their vehicles, unable to abandon them due to the high loans taken to purchase them. Khadka's electric vehicle was among those trapped in Mangaltar. “We’ve been requesting temporary road repairs to move the vehicles, but there has been no response,” he said.

In some areas, temporary roads have been constructed along the Roshi river to rescue stranded vehicles. However, local resident Manish Rayamajhi said efforts to build a temporary road through Mechhepaua to Bhakundebesi in Kavre are still underway and are expected to be completed by Monday evening.