Over 138,000 people leave Kathmandu in three days

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Sept. 26: The number of people leaving Kathmandu Valley has been increasing as the Dashain festival approaches. 

After the holidays begin in schools and colleges, a crowd of people leaving Kathmandu has been gathering at Gangabu Bus Park, Koteshwor, Kalanki, and other major junctions in Kathmandu Valley since early morning.

According to Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office Spokesperson and Superintendent of Police (SP) Naresh Subedi, about 138,296 people have already left the Valley since the day of Ghatasthapana, the very first day of the Dashain festival. On Thursday morning only, over 13,000 people have left the Valley and this number will increase by Thursday night, said the traffic police.

Similarly, the National Federation of Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs has stated that although advance ticket booking was not opened this year for various reasons, arrangements have been made to buy tickets a day in advance. Due to this, even those who buy tickets are crowded at Gangabu Bus Park.

Currently, people leaving the Valley are crowded at various intersections, including Gangabu New Bus Park, Dhading Bus Park in Machhapokhari, Koteshwor and Kalanki, among other places, according to SP Subedi. On Wednesday only, 57,559 people left the Valley in 10,055 vehicles. 

According to SP Subedi, continuous blockage of highways due to landslides, especially in western Nepal, has hampered travel and the long route vehicles and public have also been waiting and seeing the update on the highway rather than getting stranded in the middle of the travel.