Kathmandu, October 15
Health screening is being conducted at the Gaddachauki border point in Kanchanpur for Nepalis returning home from India to celebrate Dashain and Tihar.
With cross-border passenger traffic expected to rise during the festive season, the government has stepped up screening at border health desks to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Travellers are being screened for six diseases: malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, Covid-19, dengue and scrub typhus.
Siddharaj Bhatt, a public health officer at the District Health Office in Kanchanpur, said the screening aims to identify diseases among returning Nepalis, ensure timely treatment and prevent further transmission.
“If an infection is detected, the person is taken to a hospital for free treatment,” Bhatt said. “For people whose homes are far away, we contact the hospital in their respective district and arrange treatment.”
According to the District Health Office, screening is prioritised for travellers arriving from parts of India where infectious diseases such as malaria and dengue are more prevalent, as well as those with fever.
A total of 4,700 people were screened at Gaddachauki in Asoj alone. So far, two people have tested positive for tuberculosis, while no other infections have been detected among those screened.
According to police data, around 2,000 people are currently entering Nepal through Gaddachauki every day. The number of travellers has increased as Nepalis who went to various Indian cities for employment begin returning home for the festivals.
Meanwhile, the District Police Office in Kanchanpur has established passenger assistance desks at the border and other locations across the district to improve travellers’ safety and convenience.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Tek Bahadur Rawat said security surveillance had been strengthened as the number of Nepalis returning through Gaddachauki increased.
“We have established passenger assistance desks at eight locations across the district, including Gaddachauki and the Mahendranagar bus park,” Rawat said. “Security arrangements have been tightened to reduce criminal activities during the festive season.”
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