KANCHANPUR: The Gaddachauki border crossing in Kanchanpur has become increasingly busy as Nepalis working in various parts of India return home to celebrate Dashain with their families.
Many migrant workers employed in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab and other Indian regions have begun travelling home for the festive season.
Khagendra Budha of Dhakari, Achham, who works in Dehradun, was among those returning through the Gaddachauki checkpoint with five friends.
“We work in road construction in Dehradun and have returned home to celebrate Dashain,” he said. “We will celebrate the festival with our families before returning to India for work.”
Budha said many people from his region travelled to Indian cities for employment because of limited job opportunities at home.
Similarly, Nigendra Shahi of Kalikot returned from Himachal Pradesh to celebrate Dashain. He said he worked in agriculture there and used his earnings to support his family’s living expenses.
“We come home to celebrate Dashain and return to India after Tihar,” Shahi said, adding that many fellow workers followed the same routine each year.
Min Bahadur Kathayat of Masuriya, who works as a security guard in Delhi, also returned home after the start of Dashain. He said he had travelled to India for work after last year’s festival and regularly used the Gaddachauki checkpoint to return home during Dashain.
“We always come home through this checkpoint for Dashain, and travelling through it has not been a problem,” he said. “I will return to work after the festival.”
With the number of returning passengers increasing, the District Police Office in Kanchanpur has established passenger assistance desks at several locations across the district.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Tek Bahadur Rawat said the number of Nepalis entering the country through Gaddachauki had risen ahead of the festival. Police have stepped up surveillance at the checkpoint to ensure passenger safety and prevent criminal activities during the festive period.
“We have set up passenger assistance desks at eight locations in the district, including the Gaddachauki checkpoint and Mahendranagar Bus Park,” Rawat said. He added that security checks were being conducted at border points and bus parks with the assistance of trained sniffer dogs.
Meanwhile, the District Health Office has arranged health screening at the border checkpoint because people returning from India may be exposed to various infectious diseases.
According to the office, screening is being conducted for six diseases, including dengue, malaria and HIV, among people entering Nepal from India.
Comment