The Civil Aviation Office at Tribhuvan International Airport has issued a notice urging air passengers and their families not to bring garlands (Khada) when seeing off passengers. The appeal, aimed at both domestic and international travelers, was released on Thursday.
It is a common tradition for families and relatives to adorn departing passengers with garlands at the airport. However, the notice from the office highlights that these garlands, either worn by passengers or carried in their luggage, have been causing serious damage to security equipment during the screening process.
“The garlands have caused significant damage to airport security devices during security checks and have negatively impacted the aesthetics of the terminal,” the notice reads.
The office has requested that garlands not be worn during security checks inside the terminal. However, passengers can carry garlands inside their bags if they wish to bring them along.
The garlands often get stuck in the X-ray machines, conveyor belts, and escalators, leading to serious damage to these devices, according to airport authorities. An incident on August 30 highlighted the issue when airport security asked a passenger to remove their garland before proceeding, which led to public criticism.
The Civil Aviation Office hopes that this measure will improve the overall efficiency and safety of airport operations.
