KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
All-Party meeting decides to prioritize rescue operations for flood and landslide victims
The all-party meeting held by Acting Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh on Sunday, has decided to prioritize the search and rescue operations for those affected by the floods and landslides.
The top leaders of all the parties represented in the Parliament were present in the meeting.
Acting PM Singh focuses on ceremonial honors as citizens plead for rescue
As floodwaters engulfed Lalitpur early Saturday morning, Acting Prime Minister Prakashman Singh was preoccupied with wearing garlands at a local event while citizens desperately called for help.
Four people were swept away by the Nakkhu River flood, pleading for rescue for hours without any government assistance.
While Chaniklal Tamang of Kavre managed to rescue three of the four, one remains missing.
Update: Floods and landslides claim 170 lives, 42 missing
Recent late monsoon floods and landslides in Nepal have resulted in the deaths of 170 people, with 42 others reported missing.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 111 people who were rescued from the flood were injured as per the update till 7:30 pm on Sunday.
Similarly, on Sunday, 162 people were rescued from Kavre, Sindhuli, Lalitpur and other districts by helicopter.
Landslide: 35 dead bodies recovered from Dhading’s Jhyaplekhola
Thirty five dead bodies were recovered in Jhyaplekhola, Dhunibensi Municipality-9 of Dhading on the border of Dhading and Kathmandu.
Police Inspector and Information Officer Prahlad Silwal of the District Police Office informed that the rescue team that recovered the bodies of one child, five women and eight men on Saturday night recovered the bodies of nine men and two women this morning.
As the buried vehicles were in a state of disrepair and the bodies were also found scattered, it is difficult to ascertain that the body belongs to in which vehicle they were on board.
Kathmandu-Mugling road reopens after landslide cleanup in Dhading’s Jhayple Khola
The road blocked by a landslide at the Jhayple Khola in Dhading has been reopened after the removal of 35 bodies from four vehicles buried in the disaster over the weekend.
Security personnel, including the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police, worked to clear the debris and restore the Kathmandu-Mugling road section.
Among the vehicles buried in the landslide were a winger, two buses, and a van traveling toward Kathmandu from various regions.
RSP claims: Two days of rain exposed the incompetence of the two-thirds majority Government
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has criticized the government for its inadequate preparation for natural disasters.
In a central committee meeting held at the party office in Chamati on Sunday, RSP leaders claimed that the government failed to face the disaster when it focused on accusing party leader Ravi Lamichhane.
Party spokesperson Manis Jha attributed said, “The government, its allies, and political workers have been more concerned with RSP, Ravi, and co-operatives case than with disaster readiness.”
Airlines slammed for hiking ticket prices amid flood crisis
Domestic airline operators, who had sharply increased ticket prices in response to the countrywide disruption in road traffic caused by floods, have reduced their fares after facing widespread backlash.
As incessant rainfall since Thursday triggered landslides, most of the major highways connecting Kathmandu to other parts of the country have been blocked. The closure of roadways forced many travelers to turn to air travel, providing airlines with an opportunity to hike fares. However, the surge in ticket prices, which peaked on Saturday when the weather cleared, led to public outrage.
With road travel severely disrupted and passengers desperate to reach their destinations, airlines were accused of taking advantage of the crisis by charging excessive fares. In response to the growing criticism, airfares have now been reduced to below the government’s mandated upper limit.
Monsoon disasters damage 16 hydropower projects
Landslides and floods induced by incessant rains in the past two days damaged various 16 hydropower projects.
According to the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN), floods inflicted damages on powerhouses, transmission lines, and other structures. The details of the loss are being collected and it may go up.
The dam site and a pond to filter sand of the Upper Tamakoshi Project have been damaged. The Project is being developed by the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project Limited, an auxiliary company of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).
All roads to Kathmandu from Hetauda closed
All roads leading to Kathmandu from Hetauda are closed due to flooding and landslides caused by incessant rains from Thursday to Saturday.
The affected routes include the Hetauda-Kathmandu section, the Kanti Highway, the Bhimphedi-Kulekhani-Sisneri-Dakshinkali-Kathmandu roadway, the Kulekhani-Matatirtha-Kathmandu road, and the Tribhuvan Highway.
These roads remain obstructed due to the landslides and floods that occurred on Saturday, according to the District Administration Office in Makawanpur.
Domestic flights resume after weather improves
Domestic flights have resumed following improved weather conditions in Kathmandu and elsewhere.
In Kathmandu, flights have restarted at Tribhuvan International Airport and eight other airports nationwide.
Jagannath Niraula, the General Manager of Tribhuvan International Airport, stated that flights utilizing the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) system are allowed until 10:00 pm tonight.
NRB launches clean note exchange service ahead of Dashain
The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has introduced a service for exchanging clean notes, starting today, in anticipation of the Dashain festival.
Dr. Dilliram Pokhrel, assistant spokesperson for the NRB, stated that the service will be available until October 8 at the central bank’s offices, provincial offices, and branches of all banks and financial institutions.
Individuals can exchange up to Rs 18,500 in denominations of five, ten, twenty, fifty, and one hundred rupees at any accessible bank or financial institution.
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