Nine people were reported dead while 100 others were injured in Kathmandu Valley since October 1 during the Dashain festival.

The deaths were reported in Koteshwor where a bus hit a motorbike and in Gatthaghar where a two-wheeler lost control before meeting with a fatal accident.

According to the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, six people sustained serious injuries in a total of 134 accidents.

“Our main concern during the festivals is to prevent deaths in traffic accidents,” said Superintendent of Police Lokendra Malla, spokesperson for the MTPD. “This Dashain we were not able to prevent deaths but at least the fatalities decreased.”

The MTPD data shows there were 108 accidents, which claimed the lives of seven people, last Dashain. Records show that motorcycles get into accidents more often, mostly due to speed and reckless driving.

Each year during the festivals, the MTPD heightens its road surveillance and conducts a thorough checking of vehicle documents including driving licences.

Meanwhile, during its routine anti-drink driving campaign between October 1 and October 15, action was taken against over 1,200 drivers.

SP Malla said traffic police were deployed to major road stretches inside the Valley and the outer connections. Hundreds of personnel were deployed overnight with the anti-drink driving checks conducted even during the day.

“Unlike last year when there was a blockade with shortages of fuel, more people stayed here [this Dashain],” said SP Malla. “This year over 1.7 million people left the Valley and very few vehicles were seen on the road.”

The traffic police had set up 12 help desks at several places in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur for helping people who needed to go home for the festivals and taking action against reported cases of fraud involving transport entrepreneurs.