KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Satellite analysis shows GLOF as trigger behind devastating Rasuwa flood
A catastrophic flood that swept through Lhende Khola in Nepal’s Rasuwa district on Tuesday, July 8, has been traced to a sudden glacial lake outburst in Tibet’s Pyurepu Glacier region, according to new satellite-based evidence.
The European Union’s Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, analyzed alongside data from open-source platform Zoom.Earth and a joint scientific report, has provided a clear timeline of the events leading to the disaster and confirmed that the trigger was a rapidly formed and ruptured supraglacial lake.
The sequence began months earlier. On December 21, 2023, satellite images first showed the presence of small meltwater ponds atop the Pyurepu Glacier, located approximately 5,100 meters above sea level and about 35 kilometers north of the Nepal-China border.
Shekhar Koirala faction terms NC disciplinary action ‘vindictive’
The Shekhar Koirala-led faction of the Nepali Congress has strongly condemned the recent disciplinary actions taken by the party’s central leadership, calling them vindictive and politically motivated.
At a meeting held Thursday morning at Koirala’s contact office in Baluwatar, leaders from his group concluded that the disciplinary measures announced by the Central Disciplinary Committee, led by Anand Prasad Dhungana, were taken unilaterally and in violation of party statute.
The faction resolved to launch a political resistance against the decision and affirmed its commitment to ensure justice for all those penalized, stating it would not allow any of its members to be wrongfully punished.
Over Rs 15 million loss after flood washes away bridges in Mustang
Initial assessments have begun following the unprecedented flooding in Upper Mustang.
A joint monitoring team comprising Lomanthang Rural Municipality Chairperson Tasinarbu Gurung, Vice-Chairperson Chyumi Bista, Chief Administrative Officer Bikash KC, technical staff, ward officials from all five wards, and security personnel from the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force carried out an on-site inspection on Wednesday to evaluate the damage.
According to Chief Administrative Officer KC, a total of seven bridges were destroyed on rural roads within the municipality—three of them were concrete motorable bridges, alongside one steel and three wooden bridges.
Mount Kailash pilgrimage disrupted as visa delays leave over 2,500 tourists stranded
More than 2,500 international pilgrims en route to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar have been left stranded in Kathmandu due to prolonged delays in visa verification by the Chinese Embassy.
Tour operators report that what was previously a three-day visa process is now taking over 10 days, severely affecting peak-season travel plans.
Luxury hotels in Kathmandu are currently housing around 3,000 tourists awaiting visas for the revered pilgrimage, according to multiple tour operators. Many of the stranded travelers are Indian nationals or persons of Indian origin residing in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
Timure area ravaged as cross-border flood from China wreaks havoc in Rasuwa
A devastating flood that surged across the Nepal–China border has caused extensive destruction in Rasuwa district, severely damaging key infrastructure in the strategically significant Timure customs area.
The flood, which struck early Tuesday morning, originated from the Chinese side and tore through critical facilities along the Rasuwagadhi corridor.
Among the hardest-hit installations are the Timure dry port, the Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Dam, and the customs yard, which lies adjacent to the border point that facilitates bilateral trade between Nepal and China.
Manisha Koirala signs petition in support of Rabi Lamichhane
Manisha Koirala visited the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) office in Banasthali on Thursday to sign a petition demanding justice for party chair Rabi Lamichhane.
Koirala, who personally arrived at the party headquarters, expressed solidarity with the ongoing campaign, stating that Lamichhane has been subjected to “injustice and mistreatment by the state.”
TU approves 63rd Grace List with over 89,000 graduates
The 63rd Grace List of Tribhuvan University has been approved, recognizing a total of 89,191 students who passed various levels and faculties under the university system this year.
The decision was made during TU’s annual general assembly, chaired by Prime Minister and Chancellor KP Sharma Oli, at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar on Thursday. The list was presented by Registrar Prof. Dr. Kedar Prasad Rijal and approved by the assembly.
During the meeting, the budget and program for the fiscal year 2025/26 was also presented.
Test transmission begins on Chimkhola–Rahughat power line in Myagdi
The 220-kV Chimkhola–Rahughat transmission line, built to evacuate electricity from several hydropower projects in the Rahughat basin of Myagdi district, has entered its test production phase.
The 13-kilometer-long transmission line connects Chimkhola to the switchyard of the Galeshwor-based Rahughat Hydropower Project.
It is designed to channel electricity generated by four major projects — the 35 MW Chimkhola–Mangale Rahughat, 48.5 MW Upper Rahughat, 21.3 MW Thulokhola, and 23.5 MW Upper Thulokhola — into Nepal’s central power system.
NRNA-Australia to resume membership distribution ahead of unity convention
The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) National Coordination Council (NCC) Australia is set to resume its stalled membership distribution process, aiming to hold a long-awaited unity convention by including previously dissenting factions.
In a renewed push for organizational cohesion, NRNA has appointed Bivek Thapa as the coordinator for the unity convention.
The move comes under the guidance of a high-level committee tasked with unifying all wings of the diaspora community under one inclusive platform.
Minor drowns in hotel swimming pool
A child who had reportedly gone for swimming training in a hotel swimming pool has drowned.
Nine-year-old Bajrangi Rauniyar from Ranighat, Birgunj Metropolitan-11 died in the unfortunate incident that took place on Wednesday evening, District Police Office Chief Gautam Mishra said.
The child who fell unconscious after drowning in the swimming pool on the third floor of the hotel was rushed to the Narayani Hospital and he died while undergoing treatment.
Nepal drawn in Group B for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifiers
Nepal have been placed in Group B of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifiers, where they will compete against Kuwait and Japan for a chance to advance toward the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
The qualifiers are set to begin from October 8 to 17.
The Asia Qualifier has been divided into three groups:
- Group A: United Arab Emirates (UAE), Malaysia, Qatar
- Group B: Nepal, Kuwait, Japan
- Group C: Oman (hosts), Papua New Guinea (PNG), Samoa
Ward office damaged in fire
A fire broke out at the Ward office of Shuklagandaki Municipality-11 on Wednesday.
The fire reportedly originated due to an electrical short circuit, causing damage worth Rs 800,000.
Ward Chair Shalikram Bhattarai stated that the fire destroyed 90 chairs, four drawers, a sofa, a table, and a refrigerator in the office.
Floods cut off Nepal–China border road
A massive flood triggered by heavy rains early Tuesday morning has severely damaged the Syafrubesi–Timure road, a crucial section of the Nepal–China trade route, near the Lhende Khola (Bhotekoshi) area on the border.
The disaster, which struck around 3 am, caused widespread landslides along the Bhotekoshi riverbanks, completely blocking the road and making it impassable for both vehicles and pedestrians. Multiple landslides along the route have left the road in a heavily damaged state.
In Gosainkunda Rural Municipality–3, Lingling, the road was swept away, forcing travelers to navigate highly dangerous terrain on foot.
Nepal’s economy grows by Rs 400 billion, reaches Rs 6.1 trillion this fiscal year
Nepal’s economy has expanded by Rs 400 billion this fiscal year, reaching a total of Rs 6.1 trillion, according to data released by the Ministry of Finance.
The ministry stated that 18 major sectors of the economy have shown positive trends under the government led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. These sectors include transportation, construction, health, education, industrial production, electricity and gas, trade, banking and insurance, mining, real estate, information technology, agriculture and forestry, as well as administrative, scientific, and hospitality services.
Alongside overall growth, the government reported an increase in both revenue and capital expenditure. Revenue grew by Rs 108 billion while capital expenditure rose by Rs 36 billion. The ministry noted that several economic indicators have improved compared to the previous fiscal year.
PM Oli: Keep politics out of sports
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called on all stakeholders to refrain from politicizing the sports sector.
Speaking at the inauguration of the newly constructed National High Performance Centre and Sports Science Lab at the International Sports Complex in Satdobato, Lalitpur, he emphasized that while political leaders may represent the government, the sports field must remain free of political interference. He urged those involved in sports to focus solely on its development rather than political agendas.
Prime Minister Oli also instructed concerned authorities to begin preparations for the Nepal Premier League, calling it a matter of national pride. He stressed that the Ministry of Sports, the National Sports Council, and the Cricket Association of Nepal must all coordinate to ensure its successful execution.
Corruption charges filed against two former DEOs and seven others over school building scam
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed corruption charges against nine individuals, including two former District Education Officers (DEOs), for allegedly embezzling funds during the construction of a school building in Khotang.
The case involves the construction of a four-room building for Shree Janata Higher Secondary School in Diprung Chuichumma Rural Municipality–4, where authorities allegedly colluded to misuse public funds. According to CIAA, former DEOs Bal Krishna Chapagain and Ganesh Prasad Bhattarai, former accounts officer Bhuvan Prasad Acharya, accountant Suresh Kumar Shrestha, and sub-engineer Shiva Raj Rai are among the accused.
Others charged include Hem Bahadur Basnet, then principal of the school and member of the construction committee, Dilip Kumar Rai, chair of the school management and building committee, Church Bahadur Bishwakarma, chair of the committee, and Babendra Rai, who was contracted to construct the building.
Banks say local govt hindering loan recovery process
Four major associations representing Nepal’s banking and financial sector have raised concerns over local governments’ lack of cooperation in the loan and credit recovery process.
In a joint statement issued Thursday, the Nepal Bankers’ Association, Development Bankers’ Association Nepal, Nepal Financial Institutions Association, and Nepal Microfinance Bankers’ Association said that local bodies are either refusing or deliberately delaying the issuance of key documents needed for auctioning collateral, making it increasingly difficult for banks and financial institutions to recover defaulted loans.
“Recently, local governments have not been cooperating with banks, financial institutions, and microfinance institutions during the loan recovery process,” the statement reads. “In particular, local bodies are denying recommendation letters for property access and, when compelled to issue them, do so with significant delays.”
New Stock Exchange will exploit the public, reform SEBON first: RPP’s Shahi
Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) chief whip Gyanendra Shahi has opposed the idea of immediately allowing the private sector to open a new stock exchange, calling it another scheme to exploit the public.
Speaking at Thursday’s meeting of the parliamentary Finance Committee, Shahi argued that rather than establishing a second stock exchange, efforts should be focused on enhancing the quality and efficiency of the existing Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON).
He pointed out the persistent problems and distortions in the current capital market, asserting that without strengthening the existing regulatory mechanisms and market structure, there is no justification for introducing a new exchange. According to Shahi, such a move would only serve the interests of a few powerful groups and expose ordinary investors to more risk.
11 Nepali workers deported from Croatia return home
Eleven Nepali citizens who had traveled to Croatia for foreign employment have been deported and sent back to Nepal.
According to Govinda Prasad Rijal, Director General of the Tribhuvan International Airport Immigration Office, the deported youths arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday.
Rijal stated that the individuals were deported for failing to complete proper visa procedures before entering Croatia.
Body recovered from landslide
A dead body of a boy missing in a landslide since Wednesday has been recovered in the district. The 13-year-old boy had gone missing in the landslide occurred at Limpipar of Malika Rural Municipality-3.
Saroj BK, 13, had gone to a nearby field to collect fodder but went missing after the landslide.
A joint team of security forces, people’s representatives and locals recovered the lifeless body from the landslide, according to Beg Prasad Garjuba, chair at Malika Rural Municipality.
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