Pokhara Marks Dashain with Tragedy on Road, Festivity in Markets, and New Dubai Flight Link
Pokhara, Nepal's adventure tourism capital at the foot of the Annapurna range, faced a devastating week when a school bus carrying children plunged off a road in Ward No. 28, killing five people including four students. The tragedy unfolded even as the city prepared for Dashain, with thousands of goats and sheep arriving from remote Himalayan districts for the festival season, and a historic new international flight connection linking Pokhara directly to Dubai for the first time.
Five Dead Including Four Students in Pokhara School Bus Accident
Five people, including four students, were killed and fourteen others injured when a school bus operated by Kalika English School crashed in Pokhara Metropolitan City Ward No. 28 on the morning of October 9. Superintendent of Police Nabin Karki of the District Police Office, Kaski, confirmed that the deceased included three girls, one boy, and a local resident. The identities of the victims had not been established at the time of initial reports. The injured were taken to Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences for treatment. A survivor account described one student being thrown through the bus window and surviving the fall, an account that highlighted the severity of the crash on the Okhle uphill stretch of the Majhthana road in Ward 28. At least seventeen of the twenty-two passengers on board were injured. The incident renewed concerns about road safety and school vehicle safety standards in Nepal's rapidly growing metropolitan city. Pokhara Metropolitan City serves as the administrative and commercial hub of Gandaki Province, and road accidents on its hilly terrain are a recurring concern. The crash prompted calls for stricter vehicle safety checks and driver accountability in public discourse following the tragedy. [10]
🏢 flydubai Launches First Direct Dubai-Pokhara Flights, Linking Nepal's Tourism Capital to UAE
Dubai-based carrier flydubai has launched daily non-stop flights between Dubai International Airport and Pokhara International Airport, establishing for the first time a direct air link between the UAE and western Nepal. Pokhara becomes flydubai's second destination in Nepal alongside Kathmandu, and the new service brings the airline's total weekly frequencies to Nepal to 35, complementing four daily flights to Kathmandu. The route is significant for Nepal's aviation sector, as Pokhara becomes only the third airport in the country to receive scheduled international service. flydubai has carried more than 4.5 million passengers to and from Kathmandu since beginning Nepal operations in 2009, with 65 percent of traffic connecting through Dubai's aviation hub onto the wider flydubai and Emirates network. Sudhir Sreedharan, Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations at flydubai, described Pokhara as an entry point to one of South Asia's most popular leisure and adventure destinations, citing the city's role as the principal gateway to the Annapurna mountain range. For Nepali workers in the UAE and travelers from the Indian subcontinent, the direct link eliminates the need for road transfers or connections through Kathmandu, reducing travel time and improving accessibility to western Nepal substantially. [3]
🎉 Dashain Livestock Markets Open as 14,800 Goats and Sheep Arrive in Pokhara
Some 14,800 goats and sheep arrived in Pokhara ahead of the Dashain festival, with traders bringing livestock from across the high Himalayan districts and remote areas of Gandaki Province. Markets were established at Simpani in Pokhara Metropolitan City Ward No. 1 and Hemja in Ward No. 25 to handle the seasonal influx of animals. The largest share of the animals, approximately 9,000, came from Mustang, with additional consignments of 2,000 from Darchula, 1,800 from Bajhang, and 1,000 each from Bajura and Dolpa. Officials from the metropolitan city's Animal Services Section noted that more animals were still in transit and expected to reach Pokhara markets one or two days before Phulpati, a key day in the Dashain calendar when ritual offerings intensify. Veterinary officials confirmed that most of the animals inspected were found to be in healthy condition. Traders are required to present health certificates issued by livestock service offices in their source districts before transporting animals to the city markets. A joint monitoring team was deployed to oversee animal welfare through the peak market period, ensuring the health and safety of both livestock and buyers during Nepal's most significant Hindu festival. [5]
🍛 Pokhara Veterinary Teams Monitor Dashain Livestock to Protect Buyers and Animals
As over 14,800 goats and sheep arrived in Pokhara for the Dashain festive season, city veterinary authorities mounted a coordinated monitoring effort to safeguard both animal welfare and public health. Dr. Grishma Neupane, Chief of the Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Service Office Kaski, confirmed that a joint surveillance team was conducting ongoing health checks at both market sites in Simpani and Hemja. The joint operation brought together officials from the Livestock Service Branch, the Veterinary Hospital, the Livestock Service Office Kaski, and the Livestock Quarantine Office Pokhara. Animals found to be sick during inspections are placed in designated isolation facilities to prevent disease spread among the broader herd. Traders must obtain health certificates from veterinary inspectors in their source districts before transporting animals to Pokhara, as a precondition for entering the metropolitan markets. Veterinarian Navraj Adhikari noted that animals were also being held in grazing areas around the city while awaiting their turn at market stalls, and monitoring was set to continue through Phoolpati. The annual Dashain festival, which falls in October and is Nepal's most significant Hindu celebration, involves widespread ritual sacrifice of goats and sheep, making livestock supply chains a major logistical and public health matter for city authorities and a defining feature of the season's economic activity. [8]
Sources: [10] myRepublica · [3] flydubai · [5] OnlineKhabar English News · [8] Ratopati