800 thousand people leave Kathmandu Valley for their home to celebrate Dashain

KAHMANDU, OCTOBER 10 : Around 800,000 people have left the Kathmandu Valley for their home districts to celebrate Dashain, Nepal's biggest festival, according to the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE).

The FNNTE estimates that approximately one million passengers will leave the Valley by road this year for Dashain.

FNNTE President Bijaya Swar noted that while it was initially projected that 1.5 to 1.8 million people would depart the Valley to celebrate the festival in their hometowns, fewer than expected have left due to road disruptions caused by flooding and landslides triggered by continuous rainfall on September 27 and 28.

“The roads are in poor condition, making travel difficult. Many people from districts outside the Kathmandu Valley, who currently reside here, are choosing to celebrate Dashain in Kathmandu itself due to these travel difficulties. A significant number have also opted to fly instead,” Swar explained.

According to Swar, the final number of people leaving the Valley will be known by Friday, as many are still planning their journeys.

Meanwhile, Bishwa Raj Khadka, spokesperson for the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, stated that the Traffic Police have intensified surveillance and inspections to minimize road accidents amid the increased traffic during the Dashain period.