Mon Nov 04 13:41:18 UTC 2024: ## Chhath Puja Travel Chaos: Soaring Airfares Force Hyderabad Residents to Seek Alternatives
**Hyderabad, November 4, 2024:** As Chhath Puja approaches, residents of Hyderabad hailing from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are facing a travel crisis due to skyrocketing airfares. The traditional festival, which is celebrated on November 5, 6, and 7, has led to a surge in demand for flights, causing prices to double or even triple.
Typically, a two-hour flight from Hyderabad to cities like Gorakhpur and Patna costs around ₹7,000. However, this year, airfares on the peak travel dates have reached over ₹20,000.
Ramkishan Singh, a native of Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh, expressed his frustration, stating, “I usually travel home three times a year, and tickets to Gorakhpur never exceed ₹7,000. This time, they are priced above ₹20,000.”
Online checks confirm this price spike, with IndiGo’s sole daily flight from Hyderabad to Gorakhpur priced at ₹20,651 on November 5 and 6, dropping slightly to ₹13,427 on November 7. Similarly, flights to Patna are priced between ₹18,026 and ₹21,281 on the same dates.
Faced with these exorbitant fares, many travelers are opting for alternative routes. Sandeep Sharma, who hails from Deoria in Uttar Pradesh, explained, “I booked a flight to Lucknow for ₹6,000. From there, I will take a six-hour train or bus ride to Gorakhpur. It’s time-consuming, but better than spending ₹20,000 for a one-way trip.”
The soaring airfares have sparked concerns among travelers, highlighting the challenges faced by those wishing to celebrate Chhath Puja with their families.
First Piper 