Kathmandu, With the Dashain festival approaching, a significant number of people have begun leaving Kathmandu Valley to return to their hometowns. According to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, a total of 189,218 passengers left the valley between Asoj 1 and Asoj 5 (corresponding to the Nepali calendar), travelling via 29,360 public vehicles.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Lokendra Singh Gurung stated that people living in Kathmandu for purposes such as education, employment, and business have started their journey home for the festival. The majority of travelers exited through key routes including Thankot, Sanga, Dakshinkali, and Balaju.

Daily departure figures were as follows:

• Asoj 1 – 34,556 passengers

• Asoj 2 – 36,100 passengers

  

• Asoj 3 – 40,555 passengers

• Asoj 4 – 34,879 passengers

• Asoj 5 – 43,124 passengers

However, poor road conditions have created significant challenges for travelers this year. According to Dekanath Gautam, General Secretary of the National Federation of Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs, landslides triggered by continuous rainfall have disrupted several major highways. He highlighted the Muglin–Narayangadh road section as particularly problematic, with vehicles often stranded for hours. This has delayed the return of buses to Kathmandu, resulting in difficulty managing the outbound flow of passengers. Gautam has urged the government to take prompt action to clear obstructions and restore smooth traffic movement.

In addition, the New Bus Park at Gongabu has seen a sharp increase in passenger numbers. Pankaj Mall, Head of Human Resources at Lhotse Multipurpose Pvt. Ltd., which operates the facility, said the number of outbound passengers has surged significantly. While the daily average in normal times hovers around 4,000 to 5,000, the figure has now exceeded 15,000 passengers per day.

As the Dashain holiday nears, authorities expect the number of people leaving the valley to continue rising.