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The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 4.85 points to close at 2,668.17 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 0.15 points to close at 480. 38 points.

A total of -8,312,685unit shares of 294 companies were traded for Rs 3. 76 billion.

Meanwhile, United Modi Hydropower Ltd. (UMHL) and Mid Solu Hydropower Limited (MSHL) were the top gainers today, with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Three Star Hydropower Limited (TSHL) was the top loser as its price fell by 10.00 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 24 trillion.

The Khumbu region in Solukhumbu district has seen a surge in tourist arrivals.

The Lukla airport reported 200 flights in a single day, indicating a significant influx of visitors for trekking in the Khumbu region and expeditions to Mount Everest.

According to Umesh Panthi, Chief of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) at Lukla, the airport recorded a total of 298 flights from Kathmandu and Manthali in Ramechhap on Tuesday.

A total of 1,539 tourists arrived in Khumbu that day, with 62 flights by aircraft and 139 flights by helicopter. Among them, 167 domestic and 667 international tourists landed by plane, while 615 arrived by helicopter.

The number of flights is expected to increase as the tourist season has begun. However, many return flights are nearly empty, as aircraft and helicopters depart from Khumbu with few passengers.

Local tourism entrepreneurs are excited about the increased number of visitors. "We are busy offering hospitality to our guests," said Lamakaji Sherpa from Namche. The trekking season is in full swing.

Hoteliers in Lukla, Jorsalle, Phakding, Namche, Khumjung, and Tengboche—areas along the Khumbu trekking routes—are actively welcoming guests.

Sagarmatha National Park, Namche's information office Manoj Kumar Mandal said that registration of tourist arrivals is now mandatory at Jorsalle, the gateway to the Sagarmatha region.

Sagarmatha National Park, established in 1976, spans an area of 1,448 square kilometers and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. It includes the Gokyo Lake, which was listed in the Ramsar list in 2007. The park is home to diverse wildlife, including deer, the Himalayan blue sheep and wild goat, baboons, monal pheasants, horned larks, and Tibetan snowcock. The population residing within the park exceeds 3,000.

Around 100, 000 people are daily leaving Kathmandu Valley for their home districts to celebrate Dashain festival, the biggest festival of the Nepalis.

Deputy Superintendent of Police at the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Office, Rabin Karki, said that the number of vehicles and passengers exiting from the four major transit points of the Valley has surged. 

DSP Karki said that around 100, 000 passengers have been exiting from the Valley daily since the last three days. "The number of people exiting the Valley on Monday and today has increased as compared to their numbers on Sunday and Tuesday," he said.

According to him, 30, 000 people are entering the federal capital daily. Karki said that unlike during last year's Dashain, passengers need not wait for hours to cross the transit points this Dashain despite the dense traffic at the Buspark, Kalanki, Balkhu, Koteshwar and Sitapaila.

Passengers are traveling to their respective destinations outside the Valley via Araniko highway, Tribhuvan highway, Prithvi highway, and the Dakshinkali-Hetauda and the Kanti highways at present.

The recent flooding in Madhes Province has caused damages worth more than Rs 800 million.  

Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Irrigation and Water Supply of Madhes Province government, Zakki Ahamad Ansari said that the largest damage is in Rautahat district due to the flooding caused by the swollen Bagmati, Lal Bakaiya, Jhajh, Lamaha and Gujara rivers in the district. Rautahat district has suffered damages of more than Rs 195 million.

Similarly, Saptari district suffered losses of Rs 128 million due to the flooding caused by the Balan, Triyuga, Mahuli, among other rivulets in the district while the damages in Dhanusha by the flooded Ratu, Charnath, Kamala, Jallad, Aurahi, Khahare and Badahari rivulets amounted to Rs 95 million.

Likewise, the flooding caused by the swollen Bagmati, Lakhanehi, among the rivulets in Sarlahi district resulted in damages worth Rs 92.5 million. The damage due to the flooding in Bara is Rs 85 million, Rs 79 million in Siraha, Rs 75 million in Mahottari and more than Rs 55 million in Parsa.

The Madhes Province government has released Rs 80 million for the repair and maintenance of the structures damaged due to the flooding.

Five sections of different highways that were obstructed due to recent rain-induced floods and landslides are yet to be opened.

According to the Nepal Police sources, more than four dozen road sections blocked by floods and landslides have been opened and five roads are still completely obstructed.

Eight other road sections have been opened one-way; the police informed. Deputy Inspector General Dan Bahadur Karki, also the central spokesperson of Nepal Police, said efforts were underway to clear the blocked road.

As per their information, the Charshayabesi section of the BP Highway at Roshi in Kavrepalanchowk, which has been closed since September 27, has been completely halted.

The Bhakure of the same highway, Seleghat of Manthali Municipality-6 of Ramechhap, Ramechhap-Sindhuli-Khurkot of Bhotekoshi, Barhabise-Tatopani road of Bhotekoshi and Baluwatar section of Jaya Prithvi Highway of Bajhang have been completely blocked.

According to police, Lele-Tikabhairab of Godavari, Tinghare of Mid-Hill Highway of Tahrathum, Ramite of Mechi Highway at Panthar Phidim and Kanti Lokthap of Bhimphedi have been opened unilaterally.

The Kaldhunga section of the BP Highway at Roshi, Ghumaune, Hanumangadhi Keraghari section and the Benighat Krishnabhir section of the Prithvi Highway have also been opened one-way.

So far, 246 people have died in the disaster. 18 people are still missing.

Floods and landslides have blocked most of the roads connecting the capital, making it difficult for people to return home during Dashain. Despite these challenges, valley residents have been able to easily purchase goats, including Himalayan goats. The Food Management and Trading Company Limited (FMTC), Bagmati Province, is facilitating the distribution of these goats to consumers.

Nabin Chaulagain from Budhanilkantha was surprised to be able to buy a goat, as he has been purchasing from the company for the last 10 years. On Monday, he traveled 15 kilometers to the FMTC office to purchase one. “I’m happy the food company provides healthy goats and Himalayan goats for the festival every year,” he said.

Sudhir Sharma from New Baneshwar, who lives in Australia, returned home to celebrate Dashain after 11 years. On Monday, he purchased a goat priced at Rs 22,000 and expressed his happiness at being able to celebrate Dashain with his family. He appreciated the ease of purchasing the goat at a reasonable price. Similarly, Sundar Fuyal from Sundarijal bought 20 kilograms of goat meat, expressing his satisfaction with the quality.

The demand for goats and Himalayan goats in the valley is 1,700. FMTC Bagmati Province aims to bring 1,400 goats and 300 Himalayan goats for Dashain. By Monday, they had brought in 1,200 goats and Himalayan goats, with 300 goats and 50 Himalayan goats already sold. Assistant Departmental Manager Gyanu Thapa noted that consumer demand typically increases during Phoolpati, Saptami, and Ashtami, and they anticipate a rush of buyers.

“There’s a high demand for healthy goats and Himalayan goats, and consumers are satisfied without having to stand in long lines,” said Thapa. Veterinarians mark healthy goats with green-colored horns, and only these goats are sold to consumers.

Prices are slightly lower this year, with a reduction of Rs 10 per kilogram for goats and Rs 30 for Himalayan goats. “The relationship between demand and supply affects the selling price, but as a government-owned company, our focus is on serving consumers during the festival rather than making a profit,” said Thapa. She added that despite floods and landslides, they managed to transport the goats to Kathmandu after a challenging 10-day journey, ensuring the valley residents would have their supply in time for Ashtami and Nawami.

Taking advantage of the floods and landslides, traders around Gaighat have hiked the prices of vegetables. With roads blocked due to heavy rains and trucks unable to deliver fresh produce, traders have tripled the prices of vegetables compared to normal times.

Locals complain that traders are arbitrarily setting prices, even selling stale vegetables as fresh, despite regulatory agencies’ monitoring. Srijana Tamang, a resident of Gaighat, expressed frustration over the price inconsistencies, saying, “Vegetables are not cheap, and the price of the same vegetable varies from store to store.”

Consumers are further upset that despite the rising prices, authorities have shown little interest in controlling them. They also complain that traders are selling vegetables that have been in stock for several days due to the road damage caused by the floods and landslides.

Tomatoes, once sold at Rs 60 per kg, now cost Rs 200 per kg. Radishes have jumped from Rs 25 per kg to Rs 100 per kg, and mustard greens have reached Rs 160 per kg. Similarly, cauliflower now costs Rs 200 per kg, and cabbage Rs 150, according to vegetable vendor Kusheshwar Chaudhary.

The price of onions has surged from Rs 50 per kg on Sept 26 to Rs 140 per kg. Potatoes are now Rs 90 per kg, yardlong beans Rs 130 per kg, mushrooms Rs 280 per kg, pumpkins Rs 100 per kg, bitter gourds Rs 120 per kg, cucumbers Rs 150 per kg, brinjals Rs 70 per kg, and chayote Rs 40 per kg, all prices have tripled since Sept 28.

Lemons, which were previously Rs 20 for five pieces, are now Rs 15 per piece. “We don’t have any stock at home, and due to damaged roads, we’re forced to buy produce at higher prices, so we can’t sell it cheaply,” Chaudhary explained.

Another vendor, Tej Narayan Sah, echoed these concerns, stating that the higher purchase prices have inevitably led to increased selling prices. He mentioned that due to the rains, fewer vegetables are being supplied from outside districts, making it difficult to meet demand. Gaighat typically receives up to 200 tons of vegetables daily, but this has now dropped to only 50 tons.

Locals claim that although the local government, administration, and industry and commerce associations have set official vegetable prices, implementation has been ineffective, and traders’ monopolistic practices have increased.

Following the severe floods and landslides in different parts of Nepal, Russian officials expressed their sincere condolences to the government and the friendly people of Nepal.

The President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin sent a message of condolences to President of Nepal Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

Chairperson of the upper chamber of the Russian Parliament, the Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko forwarded a similar message to the Chairperson of the National Assembly of Nepal Narayan Prasad Dahal.

Likewise, Chairman of the lower house of the Russian Parliament, the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin expressed his condolences to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nepal Devraj Ghimire.

The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Nepal Aleksei A. Novikov sent a letter of condolences to the Foreign Minister of Nepal Arzu Rana Deuba as well.

The national flags of Russia were lowered in the Embassy compound and at the Ambassador’s residence in Kathmandu in order to mourn the victims of the calamity.