Home is where the heart is; thousands of people continue leaving Kathmandu Valley for their homes to avoid lockdown hardship

Kathmandu - Home is where the heart is! Home is for affection and togetherness with family members. This is reflected much in the crisis as we could see thousands of people leaving Kathmandu Valley for their homes to avoid further adversity caused by the coronavirus menace. On Tuesday and Wednesday evening, thousands of people were crowded at two major exits- Kalanki and Jadibuti- to leave for their homes as the lockdown continues meting out hardship in the city. In the crowds, there were many with newborn and toddlers, getting hurried to catch the bus.

Those with low income and losing jobs owing to the lockdown order imposed for containing the coronavirus had no option but to leave the Kathmandu Valley. After the government decided to rescue those facing much hardship with the coordination of State and local levels, the people's representatives became active to facilitate the transportation for the people of respective area. Mayor of Ramechhap municipality, Nara Bahadur Thapamagar, was facilitating the people desperate to go home from Jadibuti. "Many people from Ramechhap were facing severe hardship with the stay-at-home order for long. So, it was imperative to help them at this dire need. Most of them are workers. I came from Ramechhap to manage their travel to home," Thapamagar shared.

The municipality rescued the district people by arranging 13 buses on Tuesday and 10 buses on Wednesday. Mayor Thapamagar further said the people's transportation was managed by the municipality itself. Jadibuti area is the exit for the people to head to Okhaldhunga, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Sindhuli, Khotang and Solukhumbu districts in addition to some Tarai districts. After the workers lost jobs, they were desperate to leave Kathmandu for homes.

According to Thapamagar, data was being collected for the distribution of relief materials and medicine at people's doorsteps. Lately, the local levels have also encouraged those returned from the city to begin cultivation by providing seeds and fertilizers. The security team was facing tough time to manage the crowd at Jadibuti. Large number of security persons had to be deployed at Jadibuti and Kalanki area for it. Some police persons could be seen giving message via mike to the crowd about the place from where the buses leave to different parts. Deputy chief of Tinpata rural municipality of Sindhuli, Padam Maya Tamang, was busy rescuing the people from her area till late night at Jadibuti.

She informed that nearly 800 people were rescued and managed transportation to home in two days alone. Most of them were women and children, she added. It was also informed that nearly 2,000 people from Khanddevi rural municipality of Ramechhap left Kathmandu Valley. Similarly, lawmaker Top Bahadur Rayamajhi was found at Kalanki, facilitating the vehicles for the people willing to their homes. Both Jadibuti and Kalanki witnessed the crowds as that of the festival time- the eve of Dashain festival.