Rush at Gaddachauki Border as Nepalis Return Home from India for Festivals

KANCHANPUR, October 11.

With the onset of Dashain, crowds and bustling activity have surged at the Gaddachauki border checkpoint as Nepalis working in various cities across India head back home to celebrate the festivals with their families. Migrant workers employed in neighboring Indian regions such as Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, and Punjab regularly return home during this season.

Khagendra Budha from Dhakari, Achham, who works on road construction in Dehradun, was met at the Gaddachauki border while returning home with five friends. “We work on roads in Dehradun and have come home to celebrate Dashain,” he said. “After celebrating Dashain and Tihar, we have to return to work there.” He noted that due to a lack of employment opportunities in Nepal, many individuals travel to various Indian cities for wage labor.

Similarly, Nigendra Shahi from Kalikot shared that he has returned from Himachal Pradesh for the holidays. “We work in agriculture in Himachal, and our livelihood is sustained by those earnings,” he stated. “We come for Dashain and return after Tihar.” He mentioned that his fellow migrant workers follow the same routine, coming home for Dashain and heading back to India afterward.

Mein Bahadur Kathayat from Masuriya works as a security guard in Delhi. Having left for work after last year’s festivities, he has returned home now that Dashain has begun. “We always return home through this border crossing during Dashain, and travel has been smooth,” he said. “I will head back to work after the festivals.”

Enhanced Security and Health Screening at the Border

With the spike in incoming travelers, the Kanchanpur District Police Office has set up passenger assistance booths to prioritize safety and convenience.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Tek Bahadur Rawat reported that security and surveillance have been stepped up at the border to curb holiday-related criminal activities. “We have established eight passenger assistance booths, including at the Gaddachauki border and the Mahendranagar bus park,” he said. Security checks are also being conducted using trained sniffer dogs at both locations.

Meanwhile, the District Health Office has arranged for health screenings right at the border due to infection risks from incoming travelers. Health workers are screening returnees for six types of diseases, including dengue, malaria, and HIV.

RSS/Unified Nepal.