Health screenings at Gaddachouki border test 4,700 returnees for infectious diseases

Kanchanpur, October 15, 2026 — Nepalis returning from India for Dashain and Tihar are undergoing health screenings at the Gaddachouki border checkpoint in Kanchanpur to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases during the festival season.

The government has established health screening stations at the border to test for six categories of diseases: malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, COVID-19, dengue and scrub typhus. The initiative aims to identify possible infections among people crossing the border amid increased passenger traffic.

Siddharaj Bhatt, public health officer at the District Health Office in Kanchanpur, said the screening programme helps identify potential health conditions among returning Nepalis and enables timely intervention to prevent the spread of disease.

“Individuals diagnosed with infections are transferred to medical facilities and provided complimentary treatment,” Bhatt said.

According to the Health Office’s procedures, passengers arriving from Indian areas where communicable diseases such as malaria and dengue are prevalent, as well as those who may have been exposed to viral pathogens, undergo diagnostic tests.

As of mid-September, 4,700 health screenings had been conducted at the Gaddachouki checkpoint. Of those tested, only two people were found to have tuberculosis, while no other infections were identified.

Police records show that approximately 2,000 people leave Nepal through the Gaddachouki border crossing each day. With Nepali nationals working in various Indian cities beginning their return journeys for the festivals, the number of passengers crossing the border has increased significantly.

To improve passenger convenience and security, the District Police Office in Kanchanpur has established Civil Assistance Desks at several locations across the district, including the border checkpoint.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Tek Bahadur Rawat said surveillance at the checkpoint had been intensified in response to the growing number of Nepalis returning from India to help ensure their safety.