SIMIKOT, Nov 14: Scores of passengers including students, leaving Humla district for their destinations, have been stranded as they have been struggling to book air tickets. As a result, students who are scheduled to return to their destinations for their studies after completing their festival vacations have been hit hard the most.

Humla, which is yet to be connected to the national road network, relies on air travel to travel to other parts of the country. Air ticket agents belonging to private airlines in the district have been blamed for selling tickets arbitrarily, thus causing shortage of air tickets. 

Bishnu Rawal of Kharpunath-1 in the district complained that he failed to book an air ticket for himself for one week despite continuous efforts. "I fear I will miss my examination scheduled for November 17 ."

Rawal  said that he showed recommendations from the district administration office requesting the respective airline to manage an air ticket for him, but to no avail. Private airlines—Sita, Summit and Tara—have been operating flights from the district. 

Sita Airlines did not operate its flight from the district for one week as its aircraft is currently out of service for maintenance. In case of other airlines, their ticket agents have been selling tickets arbitrarily, thus leading to a shortage of air tickets, passengers charged. Security guards at Simikot Airport in the district have been accused of mistreating media-persons who reached the airport on Sunday morning to report on the plights of stranded passengers.

 
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