Kathmandu. The number of air passengers from Bharatpur-Kathmandu has increased after the road collapsed at Krishnabhir and other places along the Prithvi Highway. The flight from Bharatpur has more than doubled due to the increase in the number of passengers.

Buddha Air has been operating only flights from Bharatpur to Kathmandu. According to Bhakta Bahadur Basnet, chief of Buddha Air’s Bharatpur office, there used to be five flights daily from Bharatpur to Kathmandu under normal circumstances. He said that the number of daily flights has been increased from 9 to 11 as per the requirement.

ATR 72 is an aircraft that travels to Kathmandu from Bharatpur. It can carry 65 to 70 passengers from Kathmandu and 50 passengers from here to Kathmandu. Although it has a capacity of 72 passengers, it cannot carry passengers according to its capacity due to the short runway.

After the road is blocked at Krishnabhir, an alternative road can be used from Chitwan to Kathmandu via Makwanpur. He said that due to the rainy season, passengers prefer air travel. Passengers from Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Gorkha, Tanahun, Lamjung and Makwanpur also come here.

The airline has increased the number of flights to facilitate the passengers.