KATHMANDU, Oct 24: Unlike during Dashain, when police presence on Kathmandu’s roads appeared thin following the Gen-Z protests, traffic police have remained active during Tihar, ensuring road safety and smooth movement. According to police, this active presence has helped prevent major accidents during the festival.
“On the day of Tihar, 16 minor two-wheeler accidents were recorded in the Kathmandu Valley,” said Naresh Raj Subedi, information officer at the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office (KVTPO) and Superintendent of Police. “A team led by the chief of traffic police was deployed on the streets during the festival, and due to this active engagement, there were no fatalities.”
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According to him, as many as 199 people were penalized in the Valley for driving under the influence of alcohol. Fifteen others sustained minor injuries.
SSP Nawaraj Adhikari, chief of the KVTPO, said strict safety measures were enforced during Tihar. “We increased surveillance through CCTV cameras to monitor reckless driving and maintained a strong police presence on the roads,” he said
He added that police officers were deployed continuously in busy areas including New Bus Park, Koteshwor, Ratnapark, Kalanki, Chabahil, as well as across Bhaktapur and Lalitpur. Adhikari mentioned that he himself was on duty throughout the day.
“For us, duty is greater than Bhai Tika. Being on the roads for the safety of citizens and the country is our way of celebrating Tihar,” SSP Adhikari told his team, emphasizing the need for traffic police to remain alert during festivals when accidents and drunk-driving cases tend to rise.
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