Over 189,000 leave Kathmandu Valley in 5 days for Dashain

KATHMANDU: More than 189,000 people have left the Kathmandu Valley over the past five days as they head home to celebrate Dashain, the biggest festival in the Hindu calendar.

The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office reported that 189,000 passengers travelled in 29,360 public service vehicles between September 17 and 21. The vehicles departed the capital via Thankot, Sanga, Dakshinkali and Balaju checkpoints.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Lokendra Singh Guru said that people who have settled in the valley for study, business and employment are returning to their hometowns to celebrate Dashain.

Daily departures were as follows: 34,556 on September 17; 36,100 on September 18; 40,555 on September 19; 34,879 on September 20; and 43,124 on September 21.

Dek Nath Gautam, General Secretary of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE), warned that landslides have disrupted traffic on many highways this year. Thousands of vehicles were stranded for over 40 hours on the Muglin–Narayangadh road section, he said, urging the government to take prompt action to reopen the highways.

Large crowds have gathered at the Gongabu New Bus Park to secure tickets for the journey home. Gautam added that more than 15,000 passengers now depart from the park each day, compared with 4,000–5,000 on normal days.

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