Kathmandu, Oct. 20: More than 576,000 people have left Kathmandu Valley since Ghatasthapana, the first day of the 10-day Dashain festival, to till today as festive travel gathers momentum across the country.
According to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, a total of 576,578 people had travelled out of the Valley in 79,676 vehicles as of today.
With Dashain underway, traffic has been increasing at major exit points as people living in the federal capital for various purposes including education, employment and business return to their hometowns to celebrate the festival with their families.
Of those who left the Valley, 348,823 are men and 227,755 are women, said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Suresh Prasad Kafle, Chief of the Valley Traffic Police.
Major exit points, including Nagdhunga, Pharping, Thankot, Bhimdunga, Tinpiple and Sankhu, have witnessed increased traffic movement, prompting police to step up monitoring to manage the festive rush, SSP Kafle said.
He added that traffic police personnel have been deployed round the clock to facilitate safe travel and minimize road accidents during the festive period.
Kafle urged passengers and drivers to ensure that vehicles are in good condition and that drivers are physically fit and avoid driving for excessively long hours, particularly on long-route journeys.
Dashain, country’s biggest festival, is marked by family reunions and travel across the country, with many people living in Kathmandu Valley returning to their hometowns to celebrate with loved ones.
