Jakarta: The Eid Al-Fitr exodus is an annual affair for Indonesians, however this 12 months the variety of commuters is breaking previous data, police mentioned on Saturday, as some 193 million folks go away the nation’s cities to rejoice the Islamic vacation with households.

Locally referred to as “mudik,” the mass homecoming within the Muslim-majority nation of 270 million is likely one of the world’s best actions of individuals, with vacationers braving huge jams, hundreds of kilometers and exhaustion to make it residence for the vacation that marks the top of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

More than 123 million folks took half within the annual exodus in 2023 — almost 40 million greater than in 2022. This 12 months, the numbers are a lot increased, based on transportation ministry estimates.

“Survey results show 71.7 percent of the Indonesian population are planning to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr by going for mudik to their hometowns, which translates to around 193.6 million,” National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko informed Arab News.

“It’s certainly the highest compared to previous years.”

Jakarta, infamous for site visitors jams, was abandoned because the weekend started, with companies shut down and members of rich households depending on home assist checking in to the capital’s lodges as their maids and drivers are away.

As most individuals are touring to their villages by automobiles, bikes, trains and buses, greater than 155,000 safety personnel have been deployed to supervise their security.

The site visitors was anticipated to peak over the weekend.

“We deployed 155,165 joint personnel from the Indonesian military, National Police, ministries and relevant institutions, as well as other stakeholders,” Andiko mentioned.

“We have given travelers several options, including a government program that provides discounts for people traveling on April 3, 4, and 5 — an option for them to travel early in order to reduce congestion so that it doesn’t get clogged on the peak traffic days.”

Authorities have additionally ready navy helicopters to assist evacuate the wounded in case of site visitors incidents.

“For incidents that may require speedy action, the head of the National Police has given his instructions to keep two units of helicopters ready if evacuation is required along the Trans-Java route,” Andiko mentioned, referring to the 1,167-km expressway community that runs alongside Indonesia’s most populous island of Java.

Each 12 months a whole bunch of individuals die on the highway throughout the Eid exodus. Nearly 6,000 accidents had been recorded final 12 months, claiming the lives of a minimum of 726 folks.

Heightened safety measures alongside Indonesia’s most important roads shall be in place till the top of the lengthy vacation on April 16.