Kathmandu, October 9:

With the greatest Hindu festival round the corner, thousands of people living in the Valley for various purposes are leaving the Valley this Dashain.

According to police officials at Thankot Check Post, the number of people going out from the Valley is increasing with Dashain round the corner. “More than 30,000 people left the Valley yesterday alone and the number is increasing,” said a sub-inspector, adding that many people have resorted to trucks and other smaller vehicles because they did not get bus tickets.

According to Gehendra Bahadur Karki, chairman of Lhotse Multipurpose Pvt Ltd, the number of buses leaving from the New Bus Park is increasing with Dashain round the corner. Some 350 buses leave from the New Bus Park everyday and the number is still not enough to cater to all those who want to leave the Valley.

He said besides the new bus park, a large number of buses leave for eastern regions from various parts of the Valley, including Kalanki, Koteshwor and Gaushala.

With the unilateral ceasefire declared by the Maoists, a large number of people have left the Valley for Dashain, he said.