KATHMANDU, Nepal–Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the sole international airport of the country has been compelled to delay international flights, both arriving and departing, due to the presence of a huge number of earthworms which crawl on the runway frequently.
Almost all international carriers were either forced to delay or divert their flights on Tuesday and Wednesday due to earthworms.
The Capital Kathmandu has long been witnessing heavy rainfall all through the night and sunny morning since a week which has created a large numbers of such worms at the runway.
TIA has not permitted any airline to take off or land when the earthworms covered the runway, multiple sources at TIA told Nepal Mountain Focus.
According to TIA officials though they are clearing the bushes regularly, the situation has not improved as the rainfall is further fuelling problem.
Officials also fear that the presence of earthworms increases the risk of accidents as they attract birds. Himalayan nation has witnessed several air crashes due to bird hits.