State affairs committee instructs govt for prompt rescue of stranded passengers on highways

KATHMANDU, Oct 1: The State Affairs and Good Governance Committee has instructed the government to promptly rescue the passengers stranded on the highways due to landslides and floods.

On Tuesday, the committee held a discussion after calling Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and Defense Minister Manbir Rai and instructed them to take immediate action to rescue the stranded passengers. The committee has asked to adopt all kinds of measures for the rescue of the passengers.

Passengers are especially stranded on the BP highway, where over two kilometers of roads were destroyed by floods and landslides as well as in several places. Many passengers have made the journey to Dhulikhel on foot, while others are being rescued by the Nepali Army via helicopter. There are still people waiting for rescue on the highway.

The committee has instructed the government not to increase air fares and to remove flood and landslides debris to operate vehicular transport immediately.

Even though the committee has given instructions, the Department of Roads said that the BP highway will not be operational before Dashain. Similarly, airline companies have already sold one-week tickets at expensive fares.