Kathmandu, October 25

People have started returning to Kathmandu after celebrating Dashain in their hometowns and villages.

Despite acute shortage of fuel, thousands of people had left for their hometowns and villages to celebrate Dashain with their relatives.

DSP Rajendra Bhatta at the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division said over 100,000 people have entered Kathmandu via all four entry points in the last two days. According to him, only 31,620 people left the capital yesterday.

Nearly half of the passengers were compelled travel on the roofs of buses risking their lives as very few passenger vehicles have been operating due to the fuel crisis.

Tens of thousands of migrant workers, students, civil servants and private employees had left for their home districts during the festival. Around 75 per cent of the people who left capital during the festival are expected to return by next week. Students, who have a month-long holiday usually stay in their home districts till Chhath festival.

Passenger help desks have been set up in Kalanki, Satdobato, Balkhu, Koteshwor, Airport, Gaushala, Jorpati, New Bus Park, Old Bus Park, Sundhara, Swyambhu and Nagdhunga to provide necessary support to passengers.

To prevent road accidents , the government has made it mandatory for passenger vehicles plying long-routes to maintain two drivers each.