Kathmandu. The number of passengers returning to their homes from the Kathmandu Valley to celebrate Bada Dashain is increasing day by day. Since Ghatasthapana, 576,578 people have left the Kathmandu Valley.

According to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, a total of 576,578 people have left the valley in 79,676 vehicles since Ghatasthapana. With the Dashain festival approaching, the number of passengers has increased at the major checkpoints of the Kathmandu Valley as the people living in the Kathmandu Valley for studies, employment and various professions have started returning to their birthplace.

According to Kathmandu Traffic Police Chief and Senior Superintendent of Police Suresh Prasad Kafle, among the passengers leaving the Kathmandu Valley are 227,755 women and 348,823 men. He said that the number of passengers in long and short route public vehicles has increased with the return of people returning home for Dashain.

With the increase in the number of passengers leaving the Kathmandu Valley to celebrate Dashain, the movement of vehicles has increased at the major transit points of Kathmandu Valley. Passengers heading to different districts are leaving for their destinations by public buses and other vehicles.

According to the Kathmandu Traffic Police Office, the number of passengers leaving Nagdhunga, Pharping, Thankot, Bhimdhunga, Tinpiple, Sankhu, Bhaktapur and Bhattedanda is increasing. The traffic police have paid special attention to managing the movement of vehicles as the number of passengers returning home for Dashain has increased at these checkpoints.

Kathmandu Traffic Police Chief and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kafle said that the traffic police personnel are mobilized on the road round the clock to ensure the safety of the passengers and minimise road accidents during the Dashain, Tihar and other festivals.

According to him, the traffic police have increased surveillance on the roads with the objective of easing the movement of passengers, managing the pressure of vehicles and reducing possible accidents. “Traffic police are working round the clock on the road for the safety of passengers and to reduce road accidents. Our aim is to make everyone’s journey successful and safe,” he said.

He said that the passengers travelling long routes should pay special attention to the condition of the vehicle, the health of the driver and the driving time during the festivals.

As Dashain is the main cultural and family festival of Nepalis, people from different parts of the country return to their homes on this occasion. It is said that the people who had been living in the Kathmandu Valley for studies, employment and business have started returning to their villages.