Kathmandu, Sept. 29 -- With Dashain in the corner, authorities plan to open advance ticket bookings for public vehicles within a week, even as floods and landslides continue to disrupt major roads across the country.

By this point in previous years, the Department of Transport Management, in coordination with transport operators, would have already opened bookings. But weeks of heavy rain have washed away bridges and damaged roads at several locations, raising concerns over whether long-distance travel will be safe during the country's biggest festival.

Director General of the Department of Transport Management Rajeev Pokharel said a decision on bookings would be made within days as the weather improves. "We have already held a discussi...