Kathmandu’s traffic becomes chaotic due to street demonstration of ruling party UML (In pictures)

KATHMANDU, Nov 22: The traffic situation of Kathmandu Valley has become chaotic due to the street demonstration by the ruling party UML. Kathmandu residents and commuters who have left their homes for the office work are suffering from traffic jams.

The protest has not only caused trouble for the streets and traffic, it has also brought government and private offices to a standstill. Professional workers said they found it hard to get to their workplaces or report to work. The situation of the customer is also the same. Those who managed to reach the offices have been unable to get their work done.

This demonstration has affected hundreds of schools and students. School buses carrying students and teachers were caught in the gridlock and were unable to reach schools. The commoners got stuck in traffic for hours. They stranded commuters have expressed their anger towards the government, blaming those in power for causing their suffering.

UML is currently holding a public demonstration at Durbarmarg. The party has organized this protest to show its strength to the opposition. However, analysts have deemed this demonstration unnecessary. They argue that there is no justification for the ruling party to mobilize its workers on the streets in a way that disrupts traffic.

In view of the meeting of the UML, the traffic police stopped traffic at Durbarmarg this morning. As a result, traffic has been diverted to wherever the openings are, for the drivers only to be caught in the jam. Police said that the vehicles were diverted from Kesar Mahal, Jai Nepal Hall, Mahendra Shalik.

According to police, 123 checkpoints have been set up in Kathmandu today, while 644 traffic police officers have been deployed at these checkpoints. Along with the traffic police, officers from all three district police offices and police stations have been deployed at the event venue and other key locations.

Despite the demonstration taking place during the day, the movement of vehicles and people has significantly increased since the morning.

The pressure of vehicles and protesters has increased especially on the ring road of Kathmandu Valley. There has also been a notable rise in the number of vehicles at the main departure point, from Maitighar to Darbarmarg.

UML's rally will start from Bhadrakali, passing through Sundhara, Bir Hospital, Ghantaghar, Ratna Park and reach Durbarmarg and will hold an awareness assembly at Durbarmarg. Durga Prasai campaign is being held at Balkumari in Lalitpur today.