Partly cloudy in hilly region; weather likely to remain clear in remaining regions

Kathmandu, April 25: The Meteorological Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has predicted partly cloudy weather in the hilly region and fair in remaining parts of the country.

According to the Division, the weather will be partly cloudy in the hilly region and largely fair in remaining parts of the country this afternoon. Light rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at a few places in the hilly regions of Koshi, Gandaki, Karnali and Sudurpashchim provinces.

There are chances of light snowfall at one or two places in the high hilly and mountainous regions of Koshi and Gandaki provinces. Also likely is thunderstorm in some places of Lumbini Province and in sporadic areas of other provinces.

Similarly, the weather will be partly cloudy in the hilly regions of Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali provinces tonight. There is a prediction of light snowfall at one or two places of the high hilly and mountainous regions in Gandaki province.

There is a possibility of thunderstorm in some southern plain areas of Lumbini province.

In the next 24 hours, there is a chance of light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning at one or two places of the hilly regions of Koshi, Gandaki, Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces.

Forecasting thunderstorm in some places of Lumbini province as well as some places of the remaining provinces, the Division has urged the people to take necessary precautions in view of partial impact of weather changes on daily life in the area.

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Fire survivors of Mahaottari awaiting relief

Mahottari, April 25: As many as 150 fire affected families of Muslim settlement in Matihani-6 are awaiting relief. They are surviving a helpless state of life in absence of immediate relief.

The families had gone through a painful situation after a fire gutted 104 houses in their settlement on Wednesday.

The fire spread from the house of Maimun Khatun lately turned 104 houses of Jhurmutta settlement into ashes.

The victim families have voiced their complaints for not receiving any aid while the District Administration Office said efforts were underway to collect and distribute relief materials to the victims.

Chief District Officer Shivaram Gelal, also the chairperson of the District Disaster Management Committee, has appealed for help.

The emergency executive meeting of Matihani municipality has decided to immediately provide ready-to-eat food, grains and tarpaulin to the affected families.

At present, the people’s representatives, including the mayor, and the employees of the office are engaged in distributing relief materials. Nepal Red Cross Society Mahottari branch has provided utensils to the affected families.

President of Mahottari Red Cross Branch, Dipak Mishra, said they have engaged their efforts for extending support to the fire victim families.

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Noor-Ganga talent award to Pariyar

Kathmandu, April 25: The Noor-Ganga Talent Award Guthi has decided to provide Noor-Ganga National Singing Award of Rs 100,000 to folk singer Raju Pariyar.

According to member-secretary of the Guthi Yagya Prasad Sharma Pokharel, the Guthi decided to present Regional Literary Award of Rs 30,000 to literary writer from Palpa, Ram Bahadur Pahadi, National Emerging Talent Child Literature Award of Rs 25,000 to Soina Dahal of Morang and Regional Emerging Talent Singing Award of Rs 20,000 to Kushal Belbase of Arghakhanchi.

The awards will be handed over on May 24. The Guthi has been awarding creative writers and artists who have been active in art, literature and culture for the past 30 years.

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Letter of credence presented 

Kathmandu, April 25: Non-resident Ambassador of Nepal to Italy, Ram Prasad Subedi presented the Letters of Credence to President of Italy Sergio Mattarella on Tuesday.

On the occasion, President Mattarella noted that both Italy and Nepal have shared civilizational and cultural commonalities and underscored the need for promoting economic cooperation and enhancing people-to-people contacts., said the Geneva-based Nepali Embassy today.

During the audience, Ambassador Subedi conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from President Ramchandra Paudel and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ to the Italian President for his personal health and happiness as well as for the continued peace and prosperity of the people of Italy.

Also on the occasion, Ambassador Subedi had briefed the President about the priorities of the incumbent government.

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First meeting of Nepal-China aid projects concludes

Kathmandu, April 25: The first meeting of the Aid Projects of China’s Autonomous Region Tibet to Nepal (2024-2028) took place in Tibet’s capital Lhasa on April 23-24.

In the meeting concluded on Wednesday, discussions were held focusing on the aid projects to be implemented in Nepal, the Lhasa-based Consulate General of Nepal.

On the occasion, the discussions were focused on the coordination mechanism of aid projects by Tibet to Nepal in terms of work schedule, selection modality of the projects, and the ways of implementation and monitoring.

During the meeting, both sides agreed to hold the meeting of aid projects twice in the first half of the year, so as to focus on the projects arrangements and twice in the second half of the year for the implementation and review of the implemented projects.

Furthermore, the two sides underlined the need to enhance the level of support for improving the livelihood of people residing in bordering districts in the Northern Himalayan region of Nepal through the Aid Projects.

The first meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, Nepal Kamal Prasad Bhattarai, and Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Baiman Yangzong.

Also on Wednesday, Joint Secretary Bhattarai and the Head of Nepali Delegation paid a courtesy call on Executive Vice-Chairman of the People’s Government of Tibet Chen Yongqi.

During the meeting, views were exchanged on matters of mutual interests; including the promotion of socio-economic linkages for further strengthening Nepal-China relations.

The second meeting of the Aid Projects to Nepal will take place next month.

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Forest fire destroys 13 houses in Khotang

Khotang, April 25: A fire spread from a community forest has destroyed 13 houses of Barahpokhari rural municipality-1, Barahpokhari.

The fire broke out at Barahpokhari community forest gutted 13 houses, seven lofts and two sheds. Details of the loss incurred by fire is yet to be received.

According to Barahpokhari-1 ward chair Dhak Bahadur Karki, two houses and lofts of Mohanlal Thapa Magar of Bhirgaun, one house and three lofts of Purna Bahadur Magar, house of Bhadra Singh Magar and two cowsheds, house of Subash Thapa Magar and scaffolding and house of Madan Thapa Magar were gutted in the fire.

The fire destroyed two houses and two lofts, 40 goats, half tola gold and Rs 50,000 in cash of Gangamaya Magar of Dancingtar.

Likewise, the fire has gutted houses of Suman Magar of Khorsane village, Lekhraj Khatiwada of Gahate, Hom Bahadur Katawal and Padma Bahadur Katawal of Dandakharka village, among others.

The Armed Police Force, Nepal Police and local residents have been trying to douse the fire, but it has not been successful, said Bhuwan Shrestha, a local.

According to the police, 109 fire incidents have so far taken place in the district since last mid-July, causing damage of property worth Rs 40.9 million.

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