The biggest festival of the Nepalis, Dashain, has arrived, but many families are struggling to afford it. Floods in Rasuwa on August 26, landslides along the Kaligandaki Corridor from September 25 to 27, and the October 11 flood in Budhigandaki, Gorkha, have destroyed houses, damaged roads and bridges, and disrupted livelihoods. Disruptions along northern trade routes have delayed supplies and forced traders to take more expensive detours. Initial estimates put the damage and economic losses from the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli floods at more than Rs 408 billion. For families left homeless, finding shelter and securing regular meals take priority. Others are spending more on necessities while earning less. Essential kitchen items, including cooking oil, rice, wheat flour, lentils, vegetables, and meat, are becoming increasingly expensive. As a result, many people have little money left for new clothes, visits to relatives, and festive feasts. Some families have borrowed money to cover festival expenses, while others have skipped their usual purchases. Many shoppers can no longer afford items they would have bought in previous years. Amid reports of unscrupulous trading practices, the government has stepped up market inspections, deploying around 10 teams daily in the Kathmandu Valley and mobilizing an additional 50 personnel. To ease supply shortages, consumers have been allowed to purchase cooking gas from alternative suppliers. The Food Management and Trading Company has also been selling subsidized commodities through around 190 outlets.
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These efforts will make a difference only if supplies reach those who need them. The government must restore supply chains, curb unjustified price increases, and assist those who have lost their homes and livelihoods. Nobody should be forced to borrow money to celebrate Dashain. Choosing to spend less is one thing; being unable to afford a regular meal is another. Urging families to celebrate offers little comfort when putting food on the table already requires taking on debt. Some price increases are understandable. Transporters may charge more when floods and landslides block roads and force them to take longer routes, increasing delivery times and costs. When a bridge collapses, farmers may be unable to bring their produce to market, while consumers in other areas may have to pay more for it. However, traders cannot attribute every price hike to damaged roads. Transportation costs must be scrutinized. Supply disruptions are no excuse for excessive price increases. At the same time, traders facing higher costs should be given a fair hearing, and claims of increased expenses should be backed by evidence. Consumers have a right to know the results of market inspections. Authorities must disclose violations, penalties, and follow-up actions, including whether repeat offenders comply with regulations.
Announcing the number of inspection teams means little unless their work leads to lower prices, the release of withheld stocks, or the removal of unsafe products from the market. Even discounted goods may remain unaffordable for displaced families. Local governments should identify families in need of food, cooking fuel, shelter, or financial assistance and establish clear timelines for delivering support. People who have lost their homes should not have to spend days travelling between government offices to prove their need. Preparation must begin before the next road collapses. Nepal needs alternative supply routes, stronger bridges, emergency stockpiles, and equipment that can be quickly deployed for repairs. Festival-season inspections cannot compensate for years of inadequate planning. Food assistance can keep people nourished in the short term, but rebuilding farms, businesses, and livelihoods is essential to helping them become self-reliant again. Dashain will end, but the food bills will remain. So will the collapsed bridges and the families in need of shelter. Ministers must measure their response against the challenges that remain unresolved. People need affordable food, functional roads, and assistance delivered when promised. Many have already lost their homes, incomes, and loved ones. If indifference and unchecked profiteering deepen their suffering, the government cannot blame the calamity alone.