Nepal’s highways and bends are not well-suited for large Indian vehicles: Tourism entrepreneurs

POKHARA, Aug 28: Last Friday afternoon, 27 Indian pilgrims/tourists lost their lives in an accident at Aaina Pahara in Anbu Khaireni Rural Municipality-2, Tanahun, along the Prithvi Highway. Another 16 people were injured in the accident.

These Indian tourists had entered Nepal via the Sunauli border. The bus they were traveling in met with an accident while they were on their way to Kathmandu after visiting Pokhara via the Siddhartha Highway.

They had spent two days touring Pokhara and left early on Friday morning with plans to stay in Kathmandu for two nights. They wished to visit the Pashupatinath Temple. However, the 27 people who lost their lives in the accident never got to fulfill their dream of visiting Pashupatinath, and the journey for the other pilgrims was also disrupted.

According to tourism entrepreneurs, Indian tourists primarily choose Pokhara and Kathmandu as their main destinations. This is because Pokhara serves as the gateway to the Muktinath Temple in Mustang, compelling Indian pilgrims heading to Muktinath to pass through Pokhara. Additionally, after visiting Muktinath, they often wish to visit Pashupatinath, making Pokhara and Kathmandu popular choices for most Indian pilgrims and tourists.

Although the Indian pilgrims involved in Friday's accident did not have plans to visit Muktinath, visiting the Pashupatinath Temple was a priority for them. They had come to Nepal to explore the tourist city of Pokhara and then travel to Kathmandu.

According to tourism entrepreneurs, Pokhara is the top choice not only for religious Indian tourists but also for those coming for leisure. That's why a large number of Indian visitors come to Pokhara during the summer season.

Due to Indian visitors, the tourism sector in Pokhara has felt a significant relief. Tourism entrepreneurs have mentioned that even when tourists from third countries do not visit, the presence of Indian tourists keeps the tourism industry active.

However, recent vehicle accidents have also caused concern in the Indian tourism sector. With the addition of Friday’s incident, tourism entrepreneurs are worried that Indian visitors may be discouraged from coming to Nepal.

Tourism entrepreneurs have suggested that the occurrence of Indian passenger bus accidents indicates the need for greater caution when Indian vehicles travel on Nepal's highways. They believe that Nepal's roads are not well-suited for large Indian passenger buses. They also mention that the risk of accidents increases when oversized and double-decker buses come to Nepal.

"Nepal's roads are not very suitable for large Indian vehicles. In some bends, there isn't even enough space for these large vehicles to turn," says Omprakash Pandey, the manager of Hotel Landmark, which serves Indian tourists. "The risk is lower with smaller vehicles. However, because Indian vehicles are large, the roads in Nepal are not well-suited for them."

According to him, Nepal's highways are not suitable for large Indian passenger buses. "There are no issues with smaller vehicles. However, compared to Nepali buses, Indian buses carry more passengers and may not fit into the bends on highways, so extra caution is needed," he said. Passengers often suffer due to unfamiliarity with the road conditions. There is a risk of accidents when buses are fully loaded. Unfamiliarity with road conditions can also lead to problems with speed control in some areas.

He said, "Nepal's highways are so narrow that in some places, drivers have a hard time passing two vehicles at once. There is a need for greater caution when operating Indian vehicles on Nepal's roads."

Dharmaraj Panthi, president of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) Gandaki, the umbrella organization for trekking businessmen, also states that Nepal's highways are not suitable for large Indian vehicles.

Panthi says, "The highways are narrow and have many bends. Large vehicles are forcefully driven on such roads. Not only that, but there are also no traffic signs to manage vehicles on the road. Mirrors placed at bends to see if a vehicle is coming from the opposite direction are also broken."

According to him, there is currently no strict enforcement of time limits for vehicles on the highways. He explained that the lack of mechanisms to control speed has led to vehicles being driven recklessly and at high speeds.

Double-decker buses come from India packed with passengers. Traveling on the upper deck of such a bus from Pokhara to Butwal via the Siddhartha Highway can be a perilous journey, as the highway is narrow and has many bends.

Despite the inconveniences of the highways, large Indian buses are still operating on Nepal's narrow highways, he reports. "Indian buses with larger sizes and greater passenger capacities, which are not typically used in Nepal, come to Nepal. In some places, there isn't even enough space on the road for these buses to turn. There are also no mechanisms to regulate vehicle speed in Nepal," he said. "Given these weaknesses, it's hard to guarantee that more accidents won't occur in the future," he added.

Hari Sharma, the president of the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), Gandaki, also highlights that while two drivers are required for long-distance travel on Nepal's highways, Indian vehicles often make the journey with only one driver, which increases the risk.

"There is a practice of having two drivers for long-distance vehicles on Nepal's highways. However, Indian vehicles often operate with just one driver. If arrangements were made to include two drivers in Indian vehicles as well, the tourism sector could be safer," Sharma said. "Relying on a single driver increases the risk of accidents due to fatigue. Since some drivers may be coming to Nepal for the first time, Indian vehicles should only be allowed to operate on Nepal's highways with experienced drivers and a two-driver system," he stated.

He added, "Double-decker buses come to Nepal, but such vehicles are not suitable for Nepali roads. Traveling in these buses is risky because Nepal's roads are not designed for them. Nepal's highways are not equipped to support the additional load on winding roads."

He also mentioned that some roads in Nepal should not permit Indian vehicles. "Large vehicles carrying Indian tourists often travel on the narrow and winding road to Sarangkot in Pokhara. If these buses, fully loaded with passengers, encounter an accident on such a narrow and winding road, it could cause significant damage," Sharma said. "Accidents do not happen all the time, but it is important to think ahead to prevent potential damage," he said.

Sharma's suggestion is that due to the low load-bearing capacity of Nepal's roads, it is essential to consider this issue in advance for vehicles carrying additional weight.