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Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak today visited the Roshi Bazaar area in Kalanti Bhumidanda of Panauti Municipality-12 and Partikharka, Salandubagar and Chalal Ganeshthan of Bethanchowk Rural Municipality-4 in Kavrepalanchowk.

The areas were severely affected by the recent flooding and landslides.

During the visit, he interacted with the locals who survived the devastating flood from the Roshi River.

Panauti Municipality Mayor Ram Sharan Bhandari briefed the minister about the losses from the disaster, its consequences on people's lives including food and health needs, and the local government's efforts to address the post-disaster situation.

Similarly, at Bethanchowk, Rural Municipality Chair Bhagawan Adhikari updated the minister about the adversity the locals are enduring after the disasters and the measures implemented by the local government to address the situation. He said search, rescue, food supplies, health services, and transport facilities are the priorities of the local government in the wake of the disasters.

He is scheduled to attend a meeting of the District Disaster Management Committee today itself and visit the Chaukidanda in Namobuddha Municipality and the Katunje section of Roshi Rural Municipality along the BP Highway to assess the disaster losses.  

The Auditors’ Association of Nepal (AUDAN) held its sixth central committee meeting on Oct 4 in Kathmandu, chaired by President Kedar Nath Poudel. The meeting saw the participation of key figures, including outgoing President and Advisory Committee Coordinator Mohan Raj Regmi, Founder President Kamal Kharel, and Expert Committee Coordinator Surya Prasad Adhikari, alongside both physical and virtual attendees. During the meeting, General Secretary Prem Bahadur Shrestha presented the organizational report, while Treasurer Balram Chaudhary presented the financial report. The session concluded with the approval of nine special proposals addressing critical national and global issues.

According to the press statement issued by First Vice-president and Coordinator of Publicity Department Dol Prasad Dahal, the meeting expressed deep sorrow over the recent floods across the country and urged the government to expedite reconstruction efforts and provide adequate care to the affected. It also raised concerns about the exodus of young manpower and demanded the government implement skill- and employment-oriented education reforms to retain youth and boost the country’s economic development. The meeting further called on the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal (ICAN) to ensure fairness and transparency in its operations and pressed for amendments to the Nepal Chartered Accountants Act to grant equal membership rights to all auditors.

In light of global conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict, the committee voiced concern over the impact on global markets and rising commodity prices, urging peaceful resolutions. The plenary also highlighted the need for better governance and accountability in Nepal and urged the government to address managerial issues within the microfinance and cooperative sectors. Lastly, AUDAN extended festive greetings to all citizens, hoping for peace and prosperity during Dashain, Tihar, Nepal Sambat, and Chhath festivals.

A 75-km route of the road linking Mustang of Gandaki and Dolpa of Karnali Province has been opened.

The road is considered important for the internal trade, tourism development and convenience of the locals in the mountainous districts of the two provinces.

Chair of Varagung Muktikshetra Rural Municipality, Rinjin Namgyal Gurung said the work of opening the road connecting Varagung Muktikshetra of Mustang and Charka Tangsong Rural Municipality of Dolpa under the Manang-Mustang-Dolpa-Jumla road project of the federal government has reached the final stage.

A 40-km road from Jomsom to Eklebhatti, Pakling, Falek, Sangta and an additional 35 km from Sangta to Dolpa border via Yakkharka has been opened, he said.

It is necessary to upgrade 20 kilometers of roads and construct motorable bridges in four places for regular and smooth operation of traffic on this road.

Saying that the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development and Transport Management has allocated Rs 8.5 million in the current fiscal year for the construction of bailey bridge at Sukusamba on the border of Dolpa, Chai Gurung said that a proposal has been made for the government to construct three more bailey bridges or motorable bridges and upgrade the roads in risky areas for regular transport operation.

The government had initiated the construction of a road connecting Manang-Mustang of Gandaki Province and Dolpa-Mugu of Karnali Province from the fiscal year 2075÷76 BS.

According to the Road Division Office, Baglung, 56.5-km of road has been opened from Pakling with an investment of Rs 220 million. A road had already been constructed from Dolpa to the border of Mustang.

It will be so far the shortest route to connect Dolpa with the federal capital, Kathmandu.

Ward member Tshering Pasang Gurung, also a resident of Sangta, said tourists have started coming to visit Sangta and Yakkharka after the construction of the road.

The IUCN/World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL) Nepal Chapter has expressed serious concern over the recent amendments made to the ‘National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1973’ by the ‘An Ordinance Made to Amend Acts Relating to Investment Facilitation, 2024’. These amendments, particularly in Sections 5(a) and 6(1a), have drawn criticism for potentially undermining Nepal’s conservation efforts and international commitments.

The organization highlighted that Section 5(a) allows the government to designate highly sensitive areas within national parks, reserves, or conservation areas by issuing a notice in the Nepal Gazette. This discretionary power, IUCN/WCEL Nepal argues, could lead to the arbitrary exploitation of protected areas under the guise of development. The amendments could disrupt the balance between environmental conservation and development, as mandated by Article 30(3) of 2015 Constitution. IUCN/WCEL Nepal warned that projects within these sensitive zones, if prioritized for economic gain, may cause environmental degradation and harm Nepal’s globally recognized conservation achievements.

Similarly, Section 6(1a), which permits human intervention for profit-oriented use of natural resources within protected areas, has also raised alarms. IUCN/WCEL Nepal believes this provision could facilitate exploitation in the name of coexistence between nature and humans, ultimately risking the sustainability of protected regions, said Ravi Sharma Aryal, Chair, IUCN\WCEL, Nepal Chapter. 

The organization urged the government to reconsider these amendments, stressing that they contradict both national legal frameworks and international obligations, including those tied to UNESCO-listed conservation sites. IUCN/WCEL Nepal called on the government, parliament, and environmentalists to advocate for the removal of Sections 5(a) and 6(1a) from the ordinance to preserve Nepal’s conservation legacy and protect the nation’s natural heritage from profit-driven exploitation.

The impact of monsoon winds is continuing across the country.

According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, there is also a partial influence of the low-pressure system formed in and around the northern part of West Bengal, India in the eastern and central parts of the country

According to the meteorological bulletin issued by the Department today, it will be partly cloudy in the hilly areas of Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces. Light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at one or two places in these provinces.

Similarly, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the hilly regions of the country including Koshi Province tonight and partly cloudy in the rest of the country.

Light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at a few places of Koshi and Bagmati Provinces and at one or two places of the hilly regions of the rest of the provinces.

The Department has urged all concerned to take necessary precautions in view of chances of moderate rainfall in these Provinces.

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba has instructed the Nepalis embassies in Israel and Lebanon to closely monitor the situation of Nepalis there amid increasing concerns about their safety.

The minister held virtual meetings with the Nepali ambassadors in these countries on Sunday, and took information about the latest developments in these countries.

On the occasion, Minister Rana directed maintaining contact with Nepalis there, stressing the need for effective communications and assistance for them.

"Try to get in touch with all Nepalis there. Coordinate for those who want to return home. Do the necessary homework for any rescue and repatriation efforts," she directed.

Minister Rana also directed the issuance of official notices to the respective embassies, instructing them to appoint contact persons and establish help desks for any rescue and repatriation efforts.

Nepal's Ambassador to Egypt Sushil Lamsal informed about the latest situation in Lebanon, confirming the safety of Nepalis there.

It is estimated that around 1,200 Nepali people are there with most of them serving as domestic helpers. Based on information issued by the embassy, only three Nepali individuals have come in contact and they are safe in Beirut, he said, adding that no Nepalis in these countries are reported to be in trouble.

Similarly, Charge d'Affaires to Israel, Kumar Shrestha, said that the situation in Israel is normal and about 4,500 Nepalis there are safe. Additionally, Nepal's Ambassador to Pakistan, Tapas Adhikari updated on the latest situation in Iran.

Drones are being used to supply food and other essentials to a village in Panauti Municipality-12 of Kavre following the disruption of rural roads due to incessant rain last week. 

An organization namely Hami Team Nepal in collaboration with Airlift Technology has started supplying food items, including rice to Magargaun.

Team Nepal's volunteer Parikshyan Humagain said some quantities of rice and materials have been sent to Magargaun on Sunday.

Due to geographical remoteness and blockage of rural roads, the organization has provided relief materials to 85 families of the village with the help of drones.

Humagain shared that an alternative measure has been used to send food stuffs after receiving information that relief materials were needed for 85 families of the floods and landslides that hit the village.

Today, relief materials including rice, solar lights, salt, oil, spices, sanitary pads, lactogen for children will be sent through drones, Humagain said.

Drones have been flown from Bhumidanda of ward 12 as the road leading to the village from Panauti Bazaar has been damaged.

Humagain, also a social activist, said drones can transport up to 65 kilograms of food items at a time. "If the air flow is normal, relief can be sent up to 65 kg, otherwise we will send relief only 20 kg at a time," he said.

The organization has planned to send food items through drones to such places on priority basis as there are reports of similar situations elsewhere.

Humagain said that the data of the settlements and households without road connectivity has been collected for this purpose.

The death toll from floods and landslides in Kavre has so far reached 77. At least 75 people were injured in the incident. This is 31.56 per cent of the country's deaths due to last week's disaster. According to the data, 244 people have lost their lives due to floods and landslides across the country so far.

According to the District Police Office, Dhulikhel, 33 women, 28 men, nine boys and seven girls died in Kavre alone.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has underlined the need for all sides' efforts to cope with disaster.

PM Oli said it while receiving a memorandum submitted by the CPN (Maoist Center) at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Singh Durbar, on Sunday.

The Maoist Center drew the PM's attention on making systematic the works of search, rescue and relief distribution in response to the recent floods and landslides that took toll in many districts.

PM Oli vowed the government would take a lead in togetherness for disaster risk reductions. The problems facing the country due to disaster can be tackled together, he added.

Senior Vice Chairman of the Maoist Center, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, said all sectors should play their roles for disaster preparedness, and post-disaster works as search, rescue and relief distribution. Response to disaster is the collective responsibility, he added, expressing commitment that his party was ready to work together with the government for disaster management.

Also accompanying Senior Vice Chairman Shrestha were leaders Agni Sapkota, Dev Prasad Gurung, Barsha Man Pun, Janardan Sharma, and Pampha Bhusal, among others.

Even Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak was present on the occasion.