KATHMANDU: The number of people leaving Kathmandu Valley for their hometowns to celebrate Dashain has increased, with heavy crowds of passengers and public vehicles seen at Kalanki and other exit points across the Valley.
According to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, a total of 109,636 passengers left the Valley on October 11 and 12. Of them, 67,690 were men and 41,946 were women.
Police data show that 52,827 passengers left the Valley on October 11 and 56,809 on October 12. Figures for October 13 have not yet been released.
As Dashain approaches, people living in Kathmandu for education, employment and business are returning to their hometowns to celebrate the festival with family and relatives. The movement of passengers carrying festival essentials has increased around Kalanki and other major departure points.
Passenger traffic has also risen at the Nagdhunga–Thankot, Sanga and Dakshinkali exit points. According to the latest figures, 27,649 passengers left through Nagdhunga, while 20,615 departed through the Bhaktapur exit.
With passenger numbers rising, traffic police have set up help desks at various locations across the Valley to address complaints and prevent ticket black marketing and fraud.
Police have urged passengers to travel only with tickets, pay the prescribed fares and check the condition of vehicles before travelling.