19 March 2020, Kathmandu
A large number of people have started leaving Kathmandu Valley due to fear of COVID-19 that has become a global pandemic.
The Metropolitan Traffic Police Division shared that the number of people leaving Kathmandu Valley for their hometown via Jagati, Nagdhunga, Pharping and Nagarjun checkpoints is increasing in recent times as compared to previous days.
General Manager of Lhotse Multipurpose Pvt Ltd, Sunil Kunwar, said the number of people going out from Kathmandu Valley has increased on Wednesday and Thursday as compared to previous days.
A large number of people had gathered at Old Bus Park, New Bus Park, Koteshwor and Kalanki areas early from Thursday morning to leave Kathmandu Valley.
Division Spokesperson Jeevan Kumar Shrestha said that the number of people leaving Kathmandu Valley is on a rise as the exams from class 1 to 9 have been completed.
More than 90,000 people have left Kathmandu Valley on a single day as against 80,000 on other normal days. A total of 18,441 public vehicles left the valley.
Likewise, some 18,180 public vehicles carrying passengers have entered Kathmandu Valley via different checkpoints till Thursday since yesterday.
Meanwhile, General Secretary of the Federation of Nepali Transport Entrepreneurs, Saroj Sitaula, urged passengers traveling in public vehicles to use facemask mandatorily.
