KATHMANDU: As Bhaitika approaches, the number of travelers leaving the Kathmandu Valley has increased significantly.

Crowds have been seen at various checkpoints and bus terminals across the valley.

From Saturday morning until Bhaitika, around 500,000 people are estimated to travel out of the valley.

The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office reported that the number of people entering the valley for Tihar is also substantial.

Specifically, from 6 a.m. on October 20 to 6 a.m. on October 21, 40,977 travelers left the valley while 40,408 entered.