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Yet again, the Melamchi Drinking Water pipe burst in the Kathmandu Valley this morning.

It has not been long since the neighboring Babarmahal area witnessed the same incident.

The blowout got the Thapathali area- from Thapathali Chowk to Norvic Hospital- waterlogged, disrupting the vehicular movement.

Chief Executive Director at Kathmandu Valley Drinking Water Ltd (KUKL), Ashok Kumar Paudel, informed that they were preparing to identify the reason behind the burst and repair the pipe soon.

"The resumption of water supply will be ensured soon after repairing the broken pipe," he said.

The houses and shops in the area are waterlogged after the incident.

Three weeks back, the public offices at Babarmahal had to be closed suddenly after a similar burst. Even the road was collapsed by the blowout. The water pipes were ruptured while digging for a trench to expand an electric wire underground.

Executive Chief Poudel further informed that KUKL would investigate the Thapathali incident by forming a committee.

Minister for Water Supply Pradeep Yadav and Minister of Jal Shakti of India, CR Patil, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) related to the development of Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

Minister Yadav and Minister Patil signed the important MoU related to the development of WASH on behalf of the Government of Nepal and the Government of India, respectively, at a special program organized in New Delhi, said Director General of the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management Er Ram Kumar Shrestha.

"The governments of Nepal and India have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand cooperation in the areas of drinking water, sanitation and waste management. The MoU aims to develop drinking water sources, access to clean water, promote sanitation, waste management and strengthen the efforts of the Government of Nepal to that end,” Shrestha added.

The aim is to promote friendly cooperation between both India and Nepal and strengthen inter-governmental cooperation in the sanitation sector, acknowledge the efforts and concerns of the Government of Nepal on water security, ensure access to safe drinking water in Nepal and enable people's livelihood in a safe environment.

The MoU states that technology and training support will be provided to the Government of Nepal in underground water management, technology and information exchange, rainwater harvesting and measurement and technology partnership.

Nepal's Ambassador to India Shankar Prasad Sharma, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava, Secretaries at the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India Ashok Meena and Devshree Mukharjee, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Nepal Dr Surendra Thapa, Secretary at the Ministry of Water Supply Er Pramila Devi Shakya Bajracharya, Joint Secretary Er Meena Shrestha, Director General of the Department of Water Supply and Sewage Management Er Ram Kumar Shrestha, among others, were present on the occasion.

Minister Yadav is scheduled to return home on Tuesday.

All Nepal Football Association former chairman Ganesh Thapa has filed a complaint against General Secretary Kiran Rai.

Thapa filed a complaint at the Cyber Bureau alleging that Rai has assassinated his character.

He objected to Rai’s statement that he had misappropriated Rs 170 million and deposited Rs 80 million in the bank account after an investigation into money laundering.

Issuing a statement, Thapa said that he took legal help to investigate allegations levelled against him.

Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said the incumbent coalition government is advancing ahead on a consolidated ground.

In his address to a training and orientation organized for party's regional leaders in Bhairahawa today, Deuba claimed that the formation of a coalition government comprising two major and other political parties in the country has given hope among the citizens.

Stating that the incumbent NC-CPN-UML government is not an absolute majority government, it is a two-thirds government, he highlighted the need for an additional collective support for the government.

The NC leader further said political completion is essential in democracy.

NC President Deuba was of the view that if the NC has any intra-party misunderstandings, they should be sorted out through mutual discussions.

He said that the orientation would help garner a majority for the party in the upcoming elections.

The training organised by the NC Central Policy, Research and Training Academy, is being attended by 130 individuals who include regional presidents and chiefs of regional training sections, according to Academy coordinator Purna Bahadur Khadka.

There will be six presentations on matters concerning the party, its significant accomplishments, policy reforms that the party ensured during its presence in the government after 1990, the constitution, implementation of federalism, and the NC campaign for active membership, interrelations among the center, province and electoral constituencies and so on.

There will be discussions among seven panels on the second day of the event.  The next session will be for collecting submissions on the issues relating to the government and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak are scheduled to respond to the concerns raised during the session.

The event has been supported by the NC regional committee, Rupandehi electoral constituency-3.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 13. 62 points to close at 2,876.66 points on Monday. 

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 3. 71 points to close at 480. 59 points. 

A total of 31,241,258-unit shares of 300 companies were traded for Rs 14. 28 billion.

Meanwhile, Guardian Micro Life Insurance Limited (GMLI) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Samaj Laghubittya Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SAMAJ) was the top loser as its price fell by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 77 trillion.

Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari launched the book entitled 'KP Sharma Oli: Dream, Struggle and Resolve' amidst a programme here today. The book on the life and struggles of Prime Minister and CPN (UML) Chair KP Sharma Oli is edited by journalist Ganesh Pandey.

The book incorporates articles on Oli's many struggles for achieving democracy, and his dreams and leadership initiatives for the prosperity of the country.

The book contains articles by PM Oli's compatriots, politicians, economists and social personalities. It is published by Alchemy Publication.

Prime Minister Oli, UML General Secretary Shanker Pokhrel and others were also present on the occasion.

Three persons were injured in a tiger attack at Phattepur Bazaar area in Saptakoshi Municipality, Saptari on Monday. The Phattepur Police Post confirmed the incident.

The injured have been identified as Krishna Bista (43), Ganesh Khatri (55) and Rijana Gosai, Sub-Inspector Panalal Chaudhary of the Phattepur Police Post informed.

They sustained injuries on various parts of their body, he said.

Bista and Gosai have been taken to Biratnagar for treatment.

The Phattepur Bazaar residents have been terrorized after the tiger strayed into their settlement.

Minister for Home, Communication and Law Raj Kumar Lekhi of Madhes Province has directed the security agencies to monitor the bazaar area and take the tiger under control to lessen the possible damage.

SP Dakendra Khatiwada informed that Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel have been deployed to take the big cat under control.

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is constructing six 132/11 kV substations at various locations in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur to enhance the adequacy, reliability, quality, and safety of electricity transmission and distribution within the valley. Among these, the Teku substation in Kathmandu is already operational. The Futung and Mulpani substations are in their final stages, with work underway to bring them into operation within two months. The Changunarayan substation in Bhaktapur has been completed. The Chobhar substation is expected to be operational by June, while the Thimi substation in Bhaktapur will be completed within eight months.

Each substation has a capacity of 90 MVA. Once all are completed and operational, the infrastructure will be capable of handling 500 MW of electricity, meeting the Kathmandu Valley’s current demand. To address future demand, the NEA has set a 2050 deadline and is advancing plans for phased construction of transmission and distribution infrastructure in key areas of the valley. With peak electricity demand projected to reach 3,100 MW by 2050, the NEA is developing 20 new substations at 220, 132, 33, and 11 kV levels.

Land has been acquired for these substations, and preliminary work, including surveying, has been completed to construct a 220 kV transmission ring around Kathmandu Valley’s perimeter. The Lapsiphedi substation, currently under construction, will supply electricity to the valley from hydropower projects in the Tamakoshi and Sunkoshi river basins.

To improve the reliability, quality, and modernization of Kathmandu Valley’s electricity supply, the NEA is implementing various projects, including the construction of new substations, automation of existing ones, underground cabling, and the addition and strengthening of feeders and transformers.

NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising inspected the substations under construction on Friday, urging their timely completion to meet growing electricity demand. He emphasized that once these substations are operational, electricity demand management and supply in Kathmandu will become significantly more efficient and reliable.

To enhance electricity supply in the southeastern region of Kathmandu, the construction of a 132/11 kV substation in Mulpani, Kageshwori Manohara Municipality, is in its final stage. The Chapali-Bhaktapur 132 kV transmission line will be connected to the Mulpani substation, ensuring electricity distribution. Eight 11 kV feeders from the substation will supply power to areas such as Jadibuti, Pepsicola, Kandaghari, Gothatar, Mulpani, Jorpati, Sankhu, and Thimi. Work is underway to make the substation operational by March.

The construction of a 132/11 kV substation in Futung is also in its final stages. The Balaju-Chapali 132 kV double circuit transmission line will be tapped at the Futung substation to supply electricity to the surrounding areas. Once operational, power supply to Balaju, Nepaltar, Goldhunga, and other areas will improve.

A 132/11 kV substation has also been constructed in Chobhar, Kathmandu, following disruptions in construction at Khokana, Bungmati, Harisiddhi, and Lamatar under the Thankot-Chapagaun-Bhaktapur 132 kV transmission line, a crucial project for improving Kathmandu Valley’s electricity supply. The substation will receive electricity from the Matatirtha Substation, with work progressing to make it operational by June.

Additionally, a 132 kV underground transmission line will be built from the Chobhar Substation along the Ring Road to connect with the Lagankhel Substation in Lalitpur, which is being upgraded to 132 kV. The underground line will later extend to Chapagaun and Harisiddhi.