KATHMANDU:- The drive to remove encroached settlements in Kathmandu has intensified, with three sites cleared on Saturday.

Under Kathmandu Metropolitan City, settlements along the Bagmati River in Thapathali, Ward-9 (Gairigaun–Sinamangal), and Ward-31 (Shantinagar) were removed.

Chief of the Metropolitan Police Force, Bishnu Prasad Joshi, said structures built on public land were demolished using dozers. Thapathali was cleared quickly due to fewer permanent houses, while work in Gairigaun–Sinamangal continued late into the night.

A joint team of Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and metropolitan police first relocated residents and their belongings before carrying out demolition.

The metropolis said debris clearance and cleaning will continue gradually. According to the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority, 871 squatter families were living in different parts Kathmandu.