KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
PM Balendra Shah to attend UN General Assembly, Bhotekoshi disaster and climate change to top agenda
Prime Minister Balendra Shah is set to attend the United Nations General Assembly, reversing his earlier decision to skip the event and send Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal in his place. Shah came under pressure to attend the General Assembly in person after the massive Bhotekoshi flood on Bhadra 10 caused unprecedented loss of life and extensive damage to infrastructure. Amid the pressure, Shah decided to attend the General Assembly himself. Foreign Minister Khanal will also accompany him. According to sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, preparations are now underway for the prime minister’s visit. “The foreign minister will also accompany the prime minister, and preparations are underway. The issues Nepal will raise and the content of the prime minister’s address are being finalised after consultations with various experts,” a foreign ministry official said.
Over 87,000 gas cylinders brought to Kathmandu in three days
More than 87,000 gas cylinders have been brought to Kathmandu through alternative routes over the past three days after the road at Krishnabhir along the Prithvi Highway in Dhading was washed away. According to Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), a total of 87,877 gas cylinders were brought to Kathmandu after being refilled by 18 different companies at industries in Bara, Parsa, Makawanpur, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Dhanusha and Mahottari. NOC spokesperson Manoj Thakur said 24,494 cylinders entered the Kathmandu Valley on September 3, a total of 34,134 cylinders on September 4, and 29,249 on September 5. Following the disruption of the main highway, the NOC has been continuously supplying petroleum products and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding areas through alternative routes.
Ramesh Lekhak warns Congress could split if general convention is not halted
Nepali Congress leader Ramesh Lekhak has warned that the party could not be prevented from splitting if the process for its general convention is not halted immediately. Speaking to party workers during a meeting in the Dodhara-Chandani area of Kanchanpur, Lekhak said his faction was still making every possible effort with maximum flexibility to preserve party unity. He claimed the current dispute arose after the special general convention removed the working committee elected by the 14th General Convention. He said the dispute should be resolved by bringing together the working committees formed through the special general convention and the 14th General Convention.
Bhotekoshi flood: Nepal Police steps up efforts amid challenges
Despite limited resources, Nepal Police has been continuously mobilising all available mechanisms to fulfil its responsibilities and respond to the challenges created by the Bhotekoshi flood. Immediately after the flood entered Nepal from the Nepal-China border in Rasuwa, police personnel have been working round the clock from the affected areas to downstream settlements, prioritising information collection and analysis, developing response strategies, and mobilising available resources, skilled personnel and technology. According to Police Headquarters, 7,912 police personnel have been mobilised to respond to the Bhotekoshi disaster. The latest police statistics show that 6,853 people have so far been rescued from the flood-affected areas, while 515 people remain missing.
Govt committed to fulfilling Gen-Z martyrs’ dreams: Home Minister
The foundation stone for a memorial park honouring Gen-Z martyrs has been laid on the Parliament premises, with Home Minister Sudan Gurung pledging to fulfil the aspirations for which they sacrificed their lives. The foundation stone was jointly laid by government representatives and the families of the martyrs on Sunday. Speaking to the media at the ceremony, Home Minister Sudan Gurung said the government was committed to fulfilling the dreams of the Gen-Z activists who sacrificed their lives for the country.
Gagan Thapa urges Nepal to present documented losses from Bhotekoshi flood to the world
Nepali Congress president and main opposition leader Gagan Kumar Thapa has called for a serious review of the natural disasters and damage to physical infrastructure that Nepal has experienced in recent times. Speaking at a meeting of the party’s Central Working Committee at its Sanepa-based central office on Sunday, Thapa said rescue operations should remain the immediate priority, but the weaknesses exposed by the disasters should later be subject to an impartial debate in Parliament and among the public. He said disaster risk reduction and rescue operations in hydropower projects and tunnels being constructed across Nepal have emerged as major challenges during emergencies.
Bhotekoshi flood: 21 injured receiving treatment at Teaching Hospital
Twenty-one people injured in the Bhotekoshi River flood in Rasuwa on August 26 are receiving treatment at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj. Dr Gopal Sedhai, spokesperson for the hospital, said 21 of the 81 injured people brought to the hospital are still undergoing treatment. Fifty-five patients have so far recovered and been discharged. Four injured people were referred to other hospitals after being brought to the Teaching Hospital, Dr Sedhai said.
ACC Premier Cup: Nepal defeat Saudi Arabia by five wickets
The Nepali national cricket team has registered its third consecutive victory in the ACC Premier Cup, defeating Saudi Arabia by five wickets on Sunday. With the win, Nepal has secured a place in the semi-finals with one group-stage match to spare. Nepal have climbed to the top of Group A with six points from three matches. Nepal will face Hong Kong in their final group-stage match on Tuesday. Nepal defeated Bahrain by seven wickets in their opening group-stage match and Malaysia by six wickets in their second match. Chasing a target of 191 runs set by Saudi Arabia on Sunday, Nepal reached 192 for five in 41 overs. Gulshan Jha and Rohit Poudel remained unbeaten on 44 and 24 runs, respectively. Gulshan struck three fours and three sixes in his 35-ball innings, while Rohit hit two fours off 37 balls.
Madan Puraskar awarded to Bina Joshi’s book on traditional Newar masked dances
The Madan Puraskar Guthi has decided to confer the 2082 Madan Puraskar on Bina Joshi (Rajbhandari) for her book Newar Samudayaka Paramparagat Mukundonacha (Newa: Community Traditional Khwapa: Pyakhan). The decision was taken at the Guthi’s general assembly on Sunday in recognition of the book’s collection and documentation of dance traditions practiced within the community. A total of 298 books had been submitted for this year’s Madan Puraskar. Ten books were shortlisted for the Madan Puraskar Shrestha List 2082, including Ajnaat by Keshab Raj Gyawali, Itha by Keshav Dahal, Utkarsha by Lalit Bista, History of Simraungadh Linked to Nepal Mandala by Roshan Kumar Jha, Traditional Masked Dances of the Newar Community by Bina Joshi Rajbhandari, Paridhi by Uma Subedi, Mahayug by Seema Aabhas, Salah by Shravan Mukarung, Swasparsha by Dr Nawaraj KC and Hiund by Nadish.
Nepali missions abroad directed to open separate accounts for flood relief donations
The government has directed Nepali diplomatic missions abroad to operate separate bank accounts to collect donations for the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund from people and organisations overseas. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the arrangement was made because direct transfers to the fund may not be possible in some cases, while transferring amounts exceeding prescribed transaction limits could also create difficulties. “Under the existing regulations, missions have been instructed to use their existing accounts or open new ones. These accounts will be used to collect relief donations from the Nepali diaspora, foreign citizens, local organisations and community groups,” the ministry said.
Nepal, South Korea discuss Bhotekoshi flood, climate change impacts
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, who is on a visit to Nepal, held discussions with Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal on Sunday on the ongoing search, rescue and relief efforts following the Bhotekoshi flood and various aspects of bilateral relations. During the bilateral meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Singha Durbar, the two ministers also discussed efforts to search for South Korean nationals who went missing following the devastating Bhotekoshi River flood in Rasuwa on August 26. Foreign Minister Khanal expressed gratitude to the South Korean government for deploying an inter-agency rapid response team and the Korea Disaster Relief Team to assist search and rescue operations in the flood-affected areas. He also thanked the Korean government for providing humanitarian assistance and relief materials to flood victims.
Bhotekoshi flood: DNA samples collected from 1,181 bodies for identification
DNA samples from 1,181 dead bodies and blood samples from 1,186 relatives of the deceased have been collected to help identify those who lost their lives in the Bhotekoshi flash flood. The samples are being collected for DNA matching to facilitate the identification of the deceased by their families and relatives. Nepal Police spokesperson DIG Abhi Narayan Kafle told RSS that DNA sample collection was being carried out on a priority basis to identify the recovered bodies. The Bhotekoshi flood and its subsequent impact on the Trishuli River system caused significant loss of life and property. Meanwhile, a total of 1,339 bodies have so far been recovered from various districts, while 4,044 people remain missing following the devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems on August 26.
Rasuwa flood update: 1,341 confirmed dead, 4,996 unaccounted for
The death toll from the devastating Rasuwa flood has reached 1,341, while 4,996 people remain unaccounted for, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said. According to the update, 1,341 people have been confirmed dead in the flood as of 11 am today, September 6. Of them, only 98 bodies have been identified so far. Similarly, the Authority said the number of people who remain unaccounted for has reached 4,996. Of the unaccounted-for people, 1,967 are Nepali citizens reported missing by the Rasuwa District Administration Office, while 2,340 are Nepali citizens reported missing by the Nuwakot District Administration Office. Similarly, 589 are foreign nationals, while 100 security personnel and government employees are also missing.
Govt leaves no stone unturned for search and rescue efforts in flood-affected areas: Minister Dr Timilsina
Minister for Information and Communications Dr Bikram Timilsina has said the government will leave no stone unturned in search and rescue operations in areas affected by the recent floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems. Addressing a meeting of the District Disaster Management Committee on Saturday, Minister Timilsina said adequate arrangements had been made to accommodate disaster survivors at safe holding centres and provide them with necessary medical treatment following their rescue. He said the government was now focused on recovery and reconstruction while ensuring that affected people were rescued as soon as possible through the mobilisation of more than 21,000 security personnel in the disaster-hit areas.
Construction of Acrow Bridge over Tadi river expedited
The Nepali Army has expedited the construction of an Acrow bridge over the Tadi Khola at Devighat, connecting Devighat in Bidur Municipality-5, Nuwakot, with Jiling in Belkotgadhi Municipality-8. Construction of the bridge began to restore the disrupted road connection between Nuwakot and Dhading via Belkotgadhi after floodwaters from the Bhotekoshi River entered the Tadi Khola and damaged two concrete bridges in the area. The bridge is being constructed by the Bridging Unit under the Shree 14th Battalion of the Nepali Army, with the target of bringing it into operation within five days, according to Senani Chirinjibi Chaulagain, who is leading the construction team.
Flood sweeps away four houses and bridge in Gorkha
A flood in the Therang River, which flows through Chumanubri Rural Municipality-4 and 2 in the mountainous region of Gorkha district, has swept away four houses and a suspension bridge. According to the District Police Office, the flood that occurred on Sunday morning washed away the houses of Namrungkanurbu Ongyal (Nurbu Tshiring), Urgen Chhayoden, Lakpa Bhuti and Dorje Gyaljen in Chumanubri Rural Municipality-4. No casualties were reported in the incident, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajkumar Shrestha, chief of the District Police Office. He said the residents managed to flee to safety after learning about the rising floodwaters. The suspension bridge in the area was also swept away by the river.
Bhotekoshi flood damages 55 drinking water projects in four districts
Fifty-five drinking water projects in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Gorkha have been affected by the devastating flood in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa on August 26. According to preliminary assessments, the flood has caused damage estimated at around Rs 640 million to the projects. According to the Department of Drinking Water and Sewerage Management, 22 drinking water projects in Nuwakot, the district most affected by the flood, have been damaged. The department estimates the damage to these projects alone at Rs 41.15 million. According to Kamal Raj Shrestha, director general of the department, 20 projects in Dhading, five in Gorkha and eight in Rasuwa have also been damaged by the flood. The department said the process of collecting detailed information on the extent of the damage is still underway.
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