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Due to impacts of the westerly and local winds, the hilly region in the country including in Sudurpaschim is witnessing rain at present, according to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. The weather in the rest of the parts is generally fair.

There is a possibility of light rain with thunder and lightning at one or two places in the hilly areas of Koshi Province and some places in the hilly areas of Bagmati, Gandaki and Karnali Provinces. There is also a possibility of light snowfall at one or two places in the high hilly and mountainous regions of the country.

Tonight, the weather will remain fair with the possibility of light rain in one or two places in the hilly parts of the country.

Likewise, light rain coupled with thunderstorms is expected in one or two places in Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki and Karnali Provinces. Furthermore, Lumbini and some places in the plains of Sudurpaschim Province are likely to experience storms, according to the weather bulletin issued by the Department this morning.

Major political parties are busy forming and toppling governments at both the federal and provincial levels. Even a month after the change in the coalition at the center, the process of forming new governments in the provinces remains incomplete. Provincial governments have become even more unstable than the federal government. 

At the same time, major political parties are engaged in blame-games. The country is facing numerous challenges, such as an economic recession, rampant corruption, and poor governance. Even worse is the  silence of parties over sensitive issues that demand immediate and urgent attention. Over the past few months, Hindu-Muslim clashes in the Tarai region and Christian-Hindu clashes in the hill region have been escalating. Last week, the local administration in Sunsari had to impose a curfew for a couple of days to calm tensions. This week, tensions brewed when a rally organized by Hindu organizations was disrupted by another group. These incidents are not isolated; similar clashes are erupting in different parts of the country.

This surge in inter-community conflicts marks a troubling departure from Nepal's history of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence among its diverse communities. It is evident that certain vested interests are sowing seeds of discord in Nepali society by providing financial and logistical support to fuel these tensions. Nepal's security agencies, including the Nepal Army, have ground information about the groups trying to create disturbance in Nepali society. It is time to act tough to control these activities. This should become the agenda of major political parties in Parliament. Unfortunately, parties preoccupied with power struggles have yet to take the issue seriously.

Major political parties must prioritize addressing this escalating social crisis. They must unequivocally denounce these divisive activities and urge their members to refrain from participating in such provocations. Similarly, civil society, media and other social organizations, including religious organizations, must also rally to confront this challenge. Such tensions could spiral out of control any time, unleashing a new crisis which will be more detrimental than the Maoist insurgency. The inaction from the government and political parties is surprising. As a first step, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal should call an all-party meeting to discuss this agenda.

Lumbini Province Chief Minister Jokh Bahadur Mahara expanded his Cabinet, inducting four ministers from CPN-UML, one from Nagarik Unmukti Party and one independent Province Assembly member.

They were appointed as the ministers without portfolio.

Bhumishwor Dhakal, Ratna Bahadur Khatri, Arjun Kumar KC and Dinesh Panthi from UML, Dharma Bahadur Chaudhary from Nagarik Unmukti Party and independent Province Assembly Khadga Basnet were appointed as the ministers, according to a letter issued from the Chief Minister's Office.

With the expansion of the Cabinet, the Lumbini Province Government now has 10 ministers.

Likewise, Chief Minister Mahara has assigned ministerial portfolios to Ministers Chet Narayan Acharya, Dipendra Kumar Pun Magar and Bhandarilal Ahir.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 19. 56 points to close at 1,972.14 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 3. 04 points to close at 350. 47 points.

A total of 5,344,613-unit shares of 315 companies were traded for Rs 2. 09 billion.

Meanwhile, Khanikhola Hydropower Co. Ltd. (KKHC) was the top gainer today with their price surging by 7. 94 percent. Likewise, Ru Ru Jalbidhyut Pariyojana Limited (RURU) was the top loser as its price dropped by 9. 99 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 3. 12 trillion.

The District Administration Office, Morang has banned all kinds of gatherings, assemblies and religious activities in the district.

The decision to ban all kinds of gatherings, assemblies and religious activities was taken following a clash between two groups in Biratnagar 15 and 17.

The two groups had a dispute while participating in the rally taken out on the occasion of Ram Nawami on Wednesday. They clashed with each other after the dispute escalated.

Police had to use force to take the situation under control.

The order was issued to maintain peace and security in the district and to prevent any untoward incident, reads a statement issued by the District Administration Office.

The Department of Health Services has launched the National Vitamin 'A' program for children under five years from today.

Vitamin 'A' capsules are being administered to children from six months to 59 months of age and de-worming tablets to children from one year to five years in the two-day program.

Nutrition Section Head of the Department, Lila Bikram Thapa, said the Department has set a target of administering Vitamin 'A' capsules to around 3.2 million children while de-worming tablets to around 2.9 million children.

Health volunteers would administer Vitamin 'A' and de-worming tablets to children in every ward, he mentioned. 

A total of 52,000 women health volunteers and 10,000 health workers are deputed for the two-day program. 

The government administers Vitamin 'A' capsules and de-worming tablets to children free of cost in Baishakh and Kartik every year.

President Ram Chandra Paudel on Thursday nominated Dr Anjana Shakya as a member of the National on the recommendation of the government.

President Paudel nominated Shakya as the National Assembly member as per Article 86 (2) (b) of the Constitution of Nepal, reads a statement issued by the Office of the President.

Earlier on April 12, the government had decided to recommend President Paudel to nominate Shakya a member of the National Assembly.

According to Article 86 (2) (b) of the Constitution of Nepal, the President can nominate three persons including at least one woman in the National Assembly on the recommendation of the government.

Similarly, President Paudel appointed Toyam Raya as the Auditor General on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council.

President Paudel appointed Raya of Morang as the Auditor General as per Article 240 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal, the President’s Office spokesperson Shailaja Regmi Bhattarai said.

Eight Chinese tourists were injured in a road accident in Pokhara on Thursday.

According to Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Kaski, Mohan Kumar Thapa, the accident took place when a microbus (Ba 1 pa 851) heading towards Mustang Chowk from Lakeside and a jeep (Ba 13 Cha 513) en route to Ratna Chowk collided with each other at Rastra Bank Chowk in Pokhara this morning.

All the injured are receiving treatment at Gandaki Medical College, said Kaski Police. All of them are out of danger, according to the Hospital.

Police have arrested both drivers.