Kathmandu, Sept. 29 -- Dashain is 12 days away, but advance ticket bookings have yet to open. In previous years, bookings would normally have begun by now, as around 2 million people typically leave the Kathmandu Valley for the festival. This year, however, floods have washed away roads and bridges along key routes, leaving transport operators uncertain about when travel can return to normal.

Kantipur's Bimal Khatiwada spoke to Punya Prasad Sitaula (Saroj), chairman of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs, about preparations for the Dashain travel rush, road conditions and when bookings are likely to open.

Dashain is approaching. How are transport operators preparing?

The federation has been holding internal disc...