KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Bhotekoshi flood: Death toll reaches 1,325
The death toll from the devastating Bhotekoshi River flood in Rasuwa has reached 1,325, according to Nepal Police. Police said the recovered remains include 522 men, 321 women and 482 partial human remains. A total of 1,300 unidentified bodies have so far been buried after the completion of necessary procedures, according to the police. Meanwhile, 8,898 people, including both Nepali and foreign nationals, remain unaccounted for following the disaster. Nepal Police said DNA samples have been collected from 1,260 deceased persons and 846 relatives of the victims to assist in the identification process.
Nepal floods: UN launches $49.6 million emergency appeal
The United Nations and humanitarian partners have launched a $49.6 million emergency appeal to provide life-saving assistance to people affected by the catastrophic floods and landslides in northern Nepal. The four-month response plan aims to reach more than 84,000 people and support the government-led humanitarian response under the overall leadership of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA). According to UN Nepal, the response plan focuses on critical gaps identified by the government and seeks to prevent further hardship and disease outbreaks, particularly as winter approaches in high-altitude Himalayan communities.
PM Balen assures flood-hit children: “Safe, comfortable homes coming soon”
Prime Minister (PM) Balendra Shah (Balen) has assured children affected by the Bhotekoshi floods that the government will soon arrange safe and comfortable accommodation for them. In a social media post on Friday evening, Shah addressed the affected children and their parents, acknowledging the difficulties they are facing while staying at temporary holding centres in the disaster-affected areas. “We know that their stay there is not comfortable,” Shah said, adding that the government would soon arrange safer and more comfortable accommodation for them. He said the government would work to create an environment where the children could once again dream about and plan for their future.
PM Shah to travel to New York for UN General Assembly
Prime Minister (PM) Balendra Shah (Balen) is set to travel to New York to attend the high-level session of the 81st United Nations General Assembly. The 81st session of the UN General Assembly will begin at the United Nations headquarters in New York on September 8, while the high-level segment is scheduled to begin on September 22. According to a source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government has decided to send Prime Minister Shah to the United States to participate in the high-level meeting. The decision comes after the Cabinet had earlier decided to send a delegation led by Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal to the General Assembly. However, following the devastating Bhotekoshi River flood in Rasuwa on August 26, which caused significant loss of life and property, Prime Minister Shah is now preparing to attend the gathering himself and raise Nepal’s concerns over climate change and climate justice before the international community.
China’s Xizang delivers emergency aid, including Bailey bridges, to Nepal
China’s Xizang Autonomous Region has provided emergency relief supplies, including materials for two Bailey bridges, to Nepal following the recent floods and landslides. The relief materials were formally handed over to Nepal at Rizi Port in Shigatse on Friday. The shipment includes Bailey panels, reinforced suspension rods, support frames, bridge decking and I-beams—equipment sufficient to assemble two Bailey bridges. The bridges are expected to help restore vital transport links and support rescue and relief operations in areas affected by the disasters. A separate handover ceremony was also held in Lhasa on Friday between the Foreign Affairs Office of the Xizang Autonomous Region and the Consulate General of Nepal in Lhasa.
Nepal receives emergency relief and financial assistance from 29 countries
Nepal has received emergency relief, financial assistance and other forms of support from 29 countries and major international organisations following the devastating Bhotekoshi floods. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the countries that have expressed solidarity and provided assistance as of Friday afternoon include India, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Qatar, Pakistan, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Norway, Israel, Canada, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, New Zealand, Denmark, Ireland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland. The ministry said some countries have provided essential humanitarian supplies, while others have extended financial assistance and other relief materials to support Nepal’s response and recovery efforts.
Sah and Maharjan rescued from Trishuli-3 ‘A’ tunnel, brought to Kathmandu for treatment
Sanjay Sah and Kabir Maharjan, who were trapped inside the Trishuli-3 ‘A’ tunnel in Rasuwa, have been rescued and brought to Kathmandu for treatment. On the 10th day of the flood in the Bhotekoshi River, early morning on Friday (September 4), a joint rescue team of the Nepali Army and Armed Police Force safely rescued the two men from the tunnel. The Nepali Army said the two people trapped inside the tunnel were rescued alive and airlifted to Kathmandu by helicopter. They have begun receiving treatment at the Military Hospital in Chhauni. Sah is the project’s mechanical foreman, while Maharjan is the mechanical supervisor. The Nepali Army said the rescue team has so far rescued two people alive and that search and rescue operations are continuing inside the tunnel.
Focus on results, not where I sit: Sudan Gurung hits back at critics
Home Minister Sudan Gurung has defended his hands-on approach to disaster response, saying he does not believe in the traditional practice of running state affairs by sitting behind a desk in a ministry office. Gurung was at the scene this morning as two people were rescued from the Trishuli-3A tunnel. A video showing Gurung helping the rescued employees of the hydropower project from the site to a helicopter drew criticism from some quarters, with questions raised over his presence and role at the scene. Responding to the criticism on social media, Gurung said he should not be expected to follow the leadership style of traditional politicians who remain in their offices with documents in hand. “If you associate old-style leadership with sitting in a chair in a ministry and holding documents, you are in the wrong era. It is a generation gap,” he wrote. “The Disaster Response Command Center is fully operational in the presence of high-ranking officials from the concerned ministry, so there is no need to worry.”
Home Minister says two workers rescued from tunnel keep ‘ray of hope’ alive
Home Minister Sudan Gurung has described the rescue of people trapped inside the tunnel of the Upper Trishuli-3 ‘A’ Hydropower Project as a “ray of hope” after 10 days. Gurung wrote on social media on Friday, sharing photographs of the rescue, “After 10 days, two people have been rescued alive from the 3A tunnel, which still keeps the ray of hope alive.” The rescued workers have been identified as 30-year-old Sanjay Sah and 45-year-old Kabir Maharjan. Sah was working as a mechanical foreman and Maharjan as a mechanical supervisor at the project. They were trapped inside the tunnel on August 26 after the Bhotekoshi River flooded while they were carrying out technical work at the project.
Bhotekoshi flood-affected families to be rehabilitated soon
The government has formed a committee to identify suitable land for the safe rehabilitation and temporary accommodation of families displaced by the Bhotekoshi floods. The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration said the committee has been formed under the coordination of Survey Department Director General Prakash Joshi. The committee includes representatives from the Federal Affairs Division and Ministry of Infrastructure Development, the Department of Land Management and Archives, and concerned district administration and local government offices. Representatives from District Coordination Committees, District Police Offices and the Armed Police Force, as well as chiefs of Land Revenue and Survey Offices, are also members of the committee.
Gas price rises by Rs 105.18 as transport costs increase
The price of liquefied petroleum (LP) gas has increased by Rs 105.18 per cylinder, with gas dealers citing higher transportation costs caused by the obstruction of the Prithvi Highway. Following the increase, the price of a gas cylinder in the Kathmandu Valley has risen from Rs 2,060 to Rs 2,165.18. Gas dealers said the revised price would come into effect in the Valley from Thursday. Although Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) had earlier announced that the prices of petroleum products would remain unchanged, its pricing provisions have allowed gas businesses to add transportation costs under certain circumstances.
Gold price rises by Rs 2,500 per tola
The price of gold increased by Rs 2,500 per tola on Friday. The Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers has set the price of gold at Rs 307,400 per tola for Friday, up from Rs 304,900 on Thursday. Despite Friday’s increase, the price of gold has fallen by Rs 11,100 per tola over the past week. Last Friday, gold was traded at Rs 318,500 per tola. Meanwhile, the price of silver increased by Rs 40 per tola on Friday to Rs 4,765. Silver was traded at Rs 4,725 per tola on Thursday. The price of silver has also declined over the past week, falling from Rs 4,965 per tola last Friday.
Landslide partially blocks Chaulani River in Darchula
A large landslide has partially blocked the Chaulani River at Bhattar in Apihimal Rural Municipality-9, Darchula, prompting authorities to issue a warning to residents living along the riverbanks. The District Administration Office, Darchula, said continued landslides could completely block the river, raising the risk of a sudden surge in water flow if the blockage gives way. Chief District Officer Vartaraj Poudel urged residents and concerned agencies in areas along the river to remain on high alert and take necessary precautions to minimise the potential loss of life and property. The administration has also advised local residents to avoid travelling to areas around the river in view of the potential risk.
Only 24 of 193 Bhotekoshi flood victims identified at TUTH
A total of 193 bodies recovered from sites affected by the Bhotekoshi flash flood have been brought to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) in Maharajgunj. Dr Gopal Chaudhary, chief of the hospital’s forensic laboratory, said post-mortem examinations had been completed on 174 of the bodies brought to the hospital. So far, only 24 bodies have been identified and handed over to their families and relatives, according to the hospital. Dr Chaudhary said 161 of the bodies brought to TUTH had been managed at the hospital following the completion of the necessary procedures.
Bangladesh provides USD 1 million aid to Bhotekoshi flood victims
The Government of Bangladesh has provided USD 1 million to Nepal’s Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund to support ongoing relief, rehabilitation and humanitarian efforts following the devastating floods and landslides in Nepal. The humanitarian assistance was handed over today. Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Humayun Kabir, handed over a letter from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman addressed to Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah to Nepali Ambassador to Bangladesh Ghanashyam Bhandari. Earlier, on September 1, Minister Kabir expressed condolences over the Bhotekoshi flood disaster by signing a condolence book placed at the Nepali Embassy in Dhaka. In a message sent to Prime Minister Balendra Shah following the flash floods, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expressed solidarity with the Government and people of Nepal and conveyed his sympathy and compassion for the victims.
Passport Department services to operate as usual on Sept 7 and 8
The Department of Passports has announced that all passport-related services will operate as usual on September 7 and 8. Issuing a notice, the Department said its services would continue regularly on both days and urged service recipients scheduled to visit the department to complete the required procedures and arrive at the designated time. The Department said the notice was issued to inform the public about the regular operation of passport services on the specified dates.
Dumre-Besisahar road being expanded to two lanes
Expansion and upgrading work on the Dumre-Besisahar-Chame road is progressing rapidly, with an 8.9-kilometre section from Chambas in Bhanu Municipality-3, Tanahun, to Baisjanghar being widened to two lanes and prepared for blacktopping. PK Construction Services Dang is carrying out the work under a contract worth Rs 620 million. According to Nabin Bista, information officer at the Dumre-Besisahar Road Project, around 32 percent of the physical work has been completed so far. The contract for the section was signed in 2082 BS, with completion targeted for 2084 BS. Current work includes widening the road, constructing retaining walls and drainage structures, and preparing the road base. Blacktopping, culvert construction and road marking remain to be completed.
Lord Krishna’s teachings remain relevant today: President Poudel
President Ram Chandra Poudel has said the teachings of Lord Krishna remain equally relevant and valuable in contemporary society. In a message of wishes on the occasion of Shri Krishna Janmashtami on Thursday, President Poudel wished all Nepalis happiness, peace and good health. He said the festival is celebrated by worshipping Lord Krishna, who is revered for his contribution to the preservation and development of Sanatan Dharma and culture and for spreading messages of duty, action, love, ethics and knowledge that hold enduring significance for human life. Shri Krishna Janmashtami was observed across the country by worshipping Lord Krishna, with the Krishna Temple in Patan, Lalitpur, among the major centres of celebration.
Shri Krishna Janmashtami observed today
Hindus across the country celebrated Shri Krishna Janmashtami today with deep devotion and reverence, marking the birth of Lord Krishna through religious rituals, prayers, devotional singing and various cultural programmes. According to Hindu scriptures, Lord Krishna was born at midnight on Bhadrakrishna Ashtami during the Dwapar Yuga, according to the lunar calendar. He is revered as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the preserver and protector of the universe, who descended to Earth to vanquish evil, injustice and destructive forces and to restore righteousness. Lord Krishna is regarded as an embodiment of wisdom, action and devotion. His teachings, particularly those on Gyanayoga (the path of knowledge), Karmayoga (the path of action) and Bhaktiyoga (the path of devotion), remain central to Hindu philosophy and continue to inspire millions of devotees.
President Poudel worships at Patan Krishna Temple on Krishna Janmashtami
President Ram Chandra Poudel visited the historic Krishna Temple in Patan Durbar Square on Friday and offered prayers to Lord Krishna on the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami. President Poudel, accompanied by his spouse Sabita Poudel, worshipped Lord Krishna at the temple and received flower offerings and prasad from the priest. He also offered dakshina to the priest after the worship. President Poudel was welcomed at the temple premises by Lalitpur Metropolitan City Mayor Chiribabu Maharjan, District Coordination Committee Chief Rishidev Phuyal, Chief District Officer Narahari Ghimire, Assistant Chief District Officer Suprabha Dhungel and Chief Administrative Officer Rekhadas Shrestha, among others.
160 people from Koshi Province remain missing after August 26 floods
A total of 160 people from Koshi Province remain unaccounted for following the devastating floods of August 26 that swept downstream through the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems after originating in Rasuwa. According to Senior Superintendent of Police Yogendra Singh Thapa of the Province Police Office, 204 people from the province were initially reported missing following the disaster. Of them, 30 have since made contact with their families or authorities, while one person has died, one has been injured and 12 have been rescued.
Teacher shot dead in Sankhuwasabha
A teacher has been shot dead in Chirkhang of Makalu Rural Municipality-1, Sankhuwasabha. Narkubir Khambu Rai, 36, a teacher at Kalika Basic School in Chirkhang, was shot dead on Thursday night, according to Kumar Prasad Mainali, Deputy Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office. According to police, Rai, who was staying at the school, was shot after he stepped outside to wash his hands following dinner. A police team led by Police Inspector Meghraj Aryal from the District Police Office, along with a team from the Area Police Office in Hedangnagadhi, reached the incident site shortly after the shooting. Police have launched an investigation into the incident.
India stands with Nepal as Bhotekoshi floods trigger massive rescue, relief and recovery operation
The flood came like a wall of water, mud and rock, tearing through mountain settlements with such force that roads disappeared, bridges were swept away and hydropower tunnels became potential graves. But as Nepal confronts the devastating aftermath of the August 26 Bhotekoshi floods, India has moved swiftly to stand alongside its neighbour, delivering emergency supplies within hours and expanding its response into a broad operation involving rescue teams, doctors, forensic experts, medicines, technical specialists and infrastructure support. Eight days after the disaster, floodwaters have receded in many areas, but Nepal’s emergency is far from over. Thousands of people have been killed or remain missing, communities have been cut off by destroyed roads and bridges, and the search continues for workers believed to be trapped inside hydropower tunnels.
Bhaumik Foundation, BATAS Foundation to support higher education of flood-affected children
The Dr. Mani Lal Bhaumik International Foundation (India) and BATAS Foundation (Nepal) have announced a humanitarian collaboration to support the long-term rehabilitation and education of children and families affected by recent floods and natural disasters in Nepal. Under the initiative, the two organizations have committed to providing support for higher education to more than 100 children who lost their parents in the disasters. The initiative aims to go beyond immediate relief and rescue efforts by focusing on the long-term education, self-reliance and future of children who have been pushed into vulnerable economic and social conditions following the disasters, according to a press release issued by the organizations. The organizations said affected families continue to face challenges even after floodwaters recede, including the loss of livelihoods, homes and property, disruption of income sources and interruption of children’s education.
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