Poll leads to rise in air passengers


Although the air fare is high, the number of air passengers entering Humla has, of late, increased.

The number of passengers entering the district to cast their votes in the November 20 elections has increased significantly.

Bishnu Rawat, a passenger who arrived in Simkot from Nepalgunj on Friday, said that the number of passengers entering the district by air to cast their vote in the elections has increased.

According to him, 54 passengers arrived in Humla from three flights of Summit Air on Friday alone. “Most of the voters, especially from Upper Humla, who have been staying in other districts, have arrived in the district headquarters from flights this time,” he added.

Govinda Lama, in-charge of Summit Air Humla, said that the Summit Air had more than 40 passenger flights in the last 12 days.

“Although there are two to four employees in each of these flights, most of them were voters returning to the district,” Lama said.

The airplane carries 18 passengers in one flight. During this period, Summit Air has carried 720 passengers. He informed us that Summit Air would operate three flights on Saturday as well.

Similarly, Tara Air’s Simkot station assistant in-charge Nurbu Lama said that the Tara Air brought voters from its seven flights.

Due to the cold weather in Humla this season, the number of passengers entering the district used to be low at this time. But due to the election, the number of passengers entering the district is now high, he added.

Sita Air also brought voters from its seven flights from Kathmandu and Nepalgunj. Nepal Airlines also transported 105 voters from its seven flights.

As of Friday, 1,035 voters have entered Humla by air, according to the airlines.

Although the air fare is expensive, the number of passengers arriving in Humla is increasing.

A ticket to fly to Simkot from Nepalgunj costs Rs. 9,165 for a scheduled flight and Rs. 13,120 for a charter flight.

Source : TRN,