KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Budhi Gandaki flood sweeps away 35 houses in Gorkha’s Chumanubri
Flooding in the Budhi Gandaki River, triggered by a surge from the Ungilung River flowing through Chumanubri Rural Municipality-6 in Gorkha, has swept away 35 houses in Paiyu and Bagar villages. Laxmi Gurung, vice-chairperson of Chumanubri Rural Municipality, said the flooding had caused extensive damage in Dobhan, Ghattekhola, Jagat and Salleri villages. According to Gurung, the flood entered the settlements at around 4:00 am today, prompting residents living near the riverbanks to flee to safer locations. The flood has also caused significant damage to the market area of Chumanubri Rural Municipality-3. Machhakhola market in Gorkha has suffered extensive damage. The flood also swept away the suspension bridge connecting to Kerauja and caused considerable damage to the markets in Salleri and Jagat.
Nepal beat Canada by 24 runs as Rohit Paudel scores century
Nepal defeated Canada by 24 runs in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 match at Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman on Sunday. Chasing Nepal’s target of 236 runs, Canada were bowled out for 211 in 48.4 overs. Aaron Johnson was Canada’s top scorer with 44 runs off 49 balls, hitting six fours. Amit Gohel contributed 35 runs off 59 balls. Akhil Kumar remained unbeaten on 30, while Shreyas Movva and captain Hamza Tariq scored 26 runs each. For Nepal, Sandeep Lamichhane, Karan KC, Lalit Rajbanshi and Nandan Yadav took two wickets apiece.
Budhigandaki flood inundates houses in Shanti Bazaar
Houses in Shanti Bazaar, located in Arughat Rural Municipality-5 of Gorkha district, have been inundated following flooding in the Budhigandaki River. The floodwaters have also swept away the Gorkha-side section of the Arughat Bridge, which connects Gorkha and Dhading districts. Several other houses along the riverbanks have also sustained damage.
Budhigandaki flood sweeps away three bridges
A flash flood in the Budhigandaki River in Gorkha on Sunday morning swept away two suspension bridges and an iron bridge, causing damage to houses and settlements in several areas. According to police, the old suspension bridge connecting Nyakchet and Sirdibas in Nyakchet, Chumanubri Rural Municipality-3, was swept away by the flood. Similarly, the suspension bridge connecting Kerauja with Machhakhola in Dharche Rural Municipality-5 was also washed away. Police said the flood also destroyed an iron-and-concrete bridge at Soti, which connects wards 2 and 3 of Arughat Rural Municipality. The flooding occurred after a landslide blocked the Budhi Gandaki River between Lokpa and Chumling in Chumanubri Rural Municipality-6, Gorkha. The resulting surge caused damage in several locations downstream.
Budhigandaki flood damages four hydropower projects
Flooding in the Budhigandaki River has damaged four hydropower projects, affecting construction camps, equipment, Bailey bridges, access roads and bridges leading to project sites, according to preliminary reports. The 341 MW Budhigandaki Hydropower Project appears to have suffered the most extensive damage. Floodwaters reportedly swept away its main camp area and some construction equipment. The project is being developed by Times Energy Pvt. Ltd. Similarly, several houses in the camp area of the 24.5 MW Dobhan Khola Hydropower Project sustained damage. The flood also swept away a Bailey bridge belonging to the project, which is being developed by Dobhan Khola Hydropower Limited. The 30.91 MW Yaru Khola Hydropower Project was also affected. The project’s Bailey bridge was damaged, while construction materials and equipment were reportedly washed away. The project is being developed by Yaru Hydropower Pvt. Ltd.
Gold and silver prices rise in domestic market
Gold and silver prices increased in Nepal’s domestic market on Sunday, according to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association. The price of gold climbed by Rs 800 per tola to reach Rs 296,500 on Sunday, up from Rs 295,700 per tola on Friday. Silver prices also rose by Rs 35 per tola, reaching Rs 4,440 on Sunday compared to Rs 4,405 per tola on Friday, the Federation reported.
Budhigandaki flood: 47 people rescued so far
A total of 47 people stranded in areas affected by flooding in the Budhigandaki River in Gorkha have been rescued and relocated to safety, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said on Sunday afternoon. Dr. Dharma Raj Upreti, Executive Chief of the Authority, said 386 security personnel, supported by four Nepali Army helicopters, had been mobilized for search and rescue operations in the affected areas. According to Upreti, the deployment includes 127 Nepali Army personnel, 83 Nepal Police personnel and 177 personnel from the Armed Police Force (APF). The flood has caused extensive damage to bridges, houses and hydropower infrastructure in Gorkha district, while assessment teams are working to determine the full extent of the destruction.
Budhi Gandaki floods may have been triggered by breach of temporary landslide dam
Sunday morning’s flooding in the Budhi Gandaki River in Gorkha may have been triggered by the breach of a temporary dam formed when a landslide blocked the river near Chumchet, according to an initial assessment by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). Reviewing preliminary information released by government agencies in Nepal, ICIMOD said the flood may have occurred after the temporary blockage created by the landslide collapsed. According to ICIMOD, the flood is estimated to have started at around 4 am Nepal time on Sunday, October 11. It carried mud, sediment and other debris through riverside areas along the Budhi Gandaki. Fluctuations in water levels prompted warnings for residents living near the Budhi Gandaki, Trishuli and Narayani river systems.
Two arrested for assaulting school principal and teacher in Kathmandu
Police have arrested two men on allegations of assaulting and misbehaving with the principal and a female teacher at Bal Uddhar Secondary School in Kapan, Kathmandu. According to the Kathmandu District Police Range, a team from the Bauddha Police Circle was dispatched to the school premises in Kapan, Budhanilkantha Municipality-10, after receiving information about the assault at around 10:34 am on October 8. During the investigation, police found that 36-year-old Nishal Dahal, originally from Barahakshetra-7 in Sunsari and currently living in Kapan, had verbally abused and threatened a female teacher using obscene language. Police also said that 44-year-old Dhruva Prasad Ghimire, originally from Dudhauli-1 in Sindhuli and also residing in Kapan, had directed the assault on the school principal, who was allegedly punched and kicked.
Sudurpashchim government presents Rs 37.7 billion budget
The Sudurpashchim provincial government has presented a new annual budget of Rs 37.703967 billion for the current fiscal year 2083/84 after prolonged uncertainty caused by political changes and a budget impasse. Minister for Economic Affairs Chakra Bahadur Malla presented the revised budget statement at a meeting of the Provincial Assembly on Sunday. The budget announcement is expected to allow economic activities and development projects that had remained stalled in the province to resume. On June 15, the government led by then Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah had presented a budget of the same size through then Economic Affairs Minister Bikram Singh Dhami. However, the budget was not passed and became inactive after a change in the ruling coalition.
Prithvi Highway reopens to two-way traffic after Trishuli River erosion
The Prithvi Highway has reopened to two-way traffic after erosion by the Trishuli River caused a section of the road to subside, disrupting transportation. The affected section was located at Galaudi in Galchhi Rural Municipality-5, Dhading. According to Nepal Police, two-way traffic resumed at 3:10 pm on Sunday. Vehicles stranded during the disruption have now begun travelling to their destinations.
Nepali Congress prepares for final vote count for joint general secretaries and central committee members
Vote counting under the Nepali Congress’ 15th General Convention has reached its final stage, with results for key office-bearer posts and categories nearing completion. The Central Election Committee said final preparations were underway to complete vote counting for the joint general secretary posts for women and the open category, as well as the 15 central committee seats reserved for women under the party’s revised statute. Vote counting has been expedited following polling for various posts. Interest has grown as counting for the women’s joint general secretary post, the open-category joint general secretary post and the 15 open-category central committee seats for women nears completion.
Surge in devotees at Pathibhara Temple as Navaratri begins
The number of devotees visiting Pathibhara Temple has increased with the commencement of Navaratri. A large number of worshippers gathered at the temple from early this morning, the first day of the festival, to offer prayers to Goddess Pathibhara. According to Rajendra Mahat, an employee of the Pathibhara Area Development Committee, the temple premises, regarded as a sacred Shaktipeeth, have been crowded with devotees. Pilgrim activity has also increased at hotels in the Pathibhara area and Phedi. Local hotelier Indranarayan Bhattarai said that hotels were nearly fully booked, with visitors arriving both to worship Goddess Pathibhara and to enjoy views of the surrounding mountain ranges, including Kanchenjunga, Makalu and Phaktanglung.
Beni-Jomsom road reopens, 173 cargo containers head to destinations
A total of 173 cargo containers carrying goods imported from China have departed Mustang for Pokhara, Kathmandu and other urban centres following the reopening of the Beni-Jomsom road. According to Santosh Basyal, police inspector and information officer at the District Police Office, containers that entered Mustang through the Korala border point have resumed their journeys after the road, which had been obstructed for nearly two weeks, reopened on the evening of October 9. On the first day after the reopening, 85 cargo containers left Mustang, followed by another 88 on the second day. According to the police post in Ghasa, located in Thasang Rural Municipality-4 along the Myagdi-Mustang border, 391 vehicles left Mustang in the first two days after traffic resumed. More than 50 vehicles had departed the district by October 11, according to the report.
Bagmati Chief Minister Thapamagar pledges to accelerate development
Bagmati Province Chief Minister Kiran Thapamagar has pledged to work actively towards the prosperity and overall development of the province. Speaking at a festival greeting exchange programme held here today, Chief Minister Thapamagar said the provincial government was working tirelessly to promote comprehensive development across the province. He also shared his plan to develop Bhaktapur as an integrated centre for yoga, health, education and tourism. Yoga guru Nabaraj Kafle and social activist Bal Mukund Suwal also spoke at the programme, highlighting the potential for provincial development.
Swollen Budhigandaki poses high flood risk in Benighat and Muglin
The risk of flooding has increased in the areas between Benighat and Muglin after the water level of the Budhigandaki River rose above the danger level. The Flood Forecasting Division has urged residents of the high-risk Benighat area to move immediately to safer, higher ground. People living near rivers in Chitwan and Nawalparasi districts have also been advised to remain alert, as there is a moderate risk of flooding in these areas. The public can access flood updates and information through the division’s Nepal Flood Information Facebook page or by dialing 1155 and selecting option 2.
Six people airlifted to safety from Budhigandaki flood-affected area: PM Shah
Prime Minister (PM) Balen Shah has stated that six people have been airlifted to safety from an area affected by flooding along the Budhigandaki River in Gorkha. In a Facebook post, Prime Minister Shah said a Nepali Army contingent had been deployed by air and land to conduct search and rescue operations following the flooding in Gorkha. He confirmed that six people were airlifted from Jagat, an area at risk of landslides. He added that helicopters had been mobilized to support rescue, relief and evacuation efforts in the Budhigandaki flood-affected region. A Joint Rapid Response Team from Kathmandu has also been airlifted to the area to assist with the response.
Former King Gyanendra to celebrate Dashain simply, no public Tika event
Former King Gyanendra Shah has decided to observe this year’s Bada Dashain festival in a subdued manner in view of the recent natural disasters that have caused widespread loss of life and property across the country. A notice issued by the communication secretariat at Nirmal Niwas on Sunday confirmed that the former king will not offer tika and jamara to the general public on the occasion of Bijaya Dashami this year. According to the secretariat, the decision comes amid the difficult circumstances created by landslide-triggered floods in August and persistent heavy rainfall in September. The disasters have displaced thousands of people, claimed hundreds of lives and caused extensive damage to property.