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A new species of bird was spotted in Ghodaghodi Bird Sanctuary of Kailali. The Sanctuary is located in Ghodaghodi Wetlands, which is listed in the World Ramsar List.

The new discovery was made during a bird census held at the Sanctuary from May 20 to 26. Oriental Dollarbird locally known as Lalchuche Theuwa was found for the first time in the Sanctuary.

Also known by its scientific name of Eurystomus orientalis, Lalchuche Theuwa migrates to Nepal from India and Bangladesh during the summer season. A pair of Lalchuche Theuwa was spotted in the Bethani area of Ghodaghodi, said Hirulal Dagoura, facilitator at Bird Conservation Nepal.

With the addition of this new species, the number of birds found in Ghodaghodi Wetlands has reached 381.

The bird census has been carried out in coordination with the Division Forest Office and the Bird Conservation Nepal with the objective of updating on the species, number and condition of summer migratory birds.

The weather is partly to mostly cloudy in hilly areas including Koshi and Sudurpaschim Provinces, and mostly clear in the rest of the country today.

This is due to the partial effect of local winds, westerly winds as well as the low-pressure system around Bihar in India, according to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.

Later this afternoon, the weather will be partly to mostly cloudy in the hilly parts of the country including Koshi region and mostly clear in the rest of the country. There is a possibility of light rain with thunder and lightning in some places of the Koshi region.

Tonight, the weather will remain partly to mostly cloudy in Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and clear in the remaining parts of the country. There is a possibility of light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning at some places in Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and one or two places in the hilly regions of Lumbini.

In the next 24 hours, there is a possibility of light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning in some places of Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and one or two places in the hilly parts of Lumbini province.

Meanwhile, the temperature in Kathmandu Valley continues to rise with the temperature today expected to be between 31 and 33 degrees Celsius at the maximum.

On Tuesday, the temperature was 28.5 degrees Celsius and increased to 33.3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 2,300 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 140, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 138, 200 per tola on Wednesday.

Similarly, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 139, 800 per tola. It was traded at Rs 137, 550 per tola.

Meanwhile, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,900 per tola today.

Four persons died when a Bolero jeep met with an accident near Ratanangla in Surkhet on Thursday.

The District Police Office, Surkhet said that the jeep was heading towards Kalikot from Surkhet when the tragedy occurred at Takuri Mode in Birendranagar-14 along the Surkhet-Dailekh road section at 2 am today.

Police said that the jeep fell some 100 meters down the road.

Further investigation into the incident is underway.  

Aarughat is a very ancient market town in Gorkha. Located 42 kilometers north of the Gorkha district headquarters, on the famous Manaslu trekking trail, the residents of Aarughat have evidence that the market was established there 328 years ago.

At one time, Aarughat was a larger commercial center than even the district headquarters itself. However, this bustling market started losing its charm after talks began about building the 1,200-megawatt Budhi Gandaki Hydroelectric Project.

Aarughat has a historical identity as it lies on the main trail that people from Gorkha and western hill districts used to take to reach the capital before the highway opened. Being comparatively larger than other markets on the trail from Pokhara to Kathmandu, Aarughat had a vast reputation for centuries. 

For a long time, it was renowned as the main market for the Tsum-Nubri region, which comprises over half of Gorkha district, as well as Dharche, Bhimsenthan, and Aarughat rural municipalities. The market did not lose its charm even after the Prithvi Highway, which links Pokhara with Kathmandu, was built as it was seated on the trekking trail to the famous Manaslu Circuit Trail.

Aarughat, which developed into a bustling market on the land gifted by the rulers to boatmen who helped people cross the mighty Budhi Gandaki River, has now started to wear a deserted look. When talks of building the mega reservoir project started in the 2010s, people started leaving this bustling place. The 2015 earthquakes, which floored many houses in the market, expedited the migration of people from Aarughat.

Ganesh Kumar Shrestha, a local, said most of the people from Aarughat have moved to Kathmandu. According to Shrestha, the rate of people abandoning Aarughat shot up drastically in the last five years after they received compensation for their land and houses from the project. “The well-off people already had land and houses in Kathmandu and other cities and were gradually abandoning Aarughat. The distribution of compensation expedited migration,” Shrestha added.

According to Krishna Pokharel, a local grocer, the houses of the Aarughat market used to be packed earlier. But now it looks as empty as a sheep-shed after the herd has moved on in winter.

Until a decade ago, Aarughat was a bustling market area. Businesses had occupied almost all the houses in the village. Even those who had houses in Kathmandu and Pokhara had not abandoned Aarughat. “There used to be a crowd of people going to Gorkha, Kathmandu, Pokhara, and towards the highlands every day. There would be a rush of employees and parents taking their children to schools,” Pokharel said. “But when talks of the Budhi Gandaki project started, people gradually started abandoning Aarughat. The 2015 earthquakes further compounded woes for this market.”

Now the old main market street of Aarughat has padlocks on the doors of houses on both sides. Weeds have grown over the yards of some houses, the plaster is peeling off others, and some look dilapidated. With no maintenance, the yards and porticos are overgrown like grazing meadows.

Buddha Prasad Shrestha, chairperson of Ward-9 of Aarughat Rural Municipality, said only about 50 percent of the 400 households are in Aarughat now. “It is said that Newar traders, who came from Kathmandu around 400 years ago, started their businesses in Aarughat, which was inhabited by boatmen. There are records that show this market existed 200 years ago,” Chairperson Shrestha said. “The market started expanding after people from Dharche and the Tsum-Nubri region started settling here after the 1990s.”

According to Chairperson Shrestha, the market is getting deserted because of the 2015 earthquakes and the Budhi Gandaki project. “Only those who can’t go elsewhere remain in Aarughat now,” he said. “The old main market area below the area police office is now largely deserted.”

A total of 4,035 Nepalis died abroad between the fiscal year 2020-21 and 2022-23 due to various causes. According to data from the Foreign Employment Board, 870 Nepali migrant workers suffered injuries or fell ill during this period. Over the past three years, there has been a concerning rise in the number of deaths and illnesses among Nepali migrant workers. In the fiscal 2021-22, these incidents accounted for 18.5 percent of the migrant workers, followed by 31.95 percent in 2021-22 and 49.54 percent in 2022-23. Despite falling deaths, the cases of mutilations and illness have soared over these years.

The challenges facing Nepali migrant workers include adverse weather conditions in destination countries, increased workload, liquor consumption, conflicts with colleagues, familial pressure, lack of knowledge about local laws, technical errors in handling and operation of machinery, traffic accidents, workplace incidents, burns, suffocation, drowning and illnesses, as highlighted in the report. In the last fiscal year, out of 1,250 fatalities, 27.96 percent occurred in Malaysia, followed by 26.36 percent in Saudi Arabia, 17.98 percent in the United Arab Emirates, 17.32 percent in Qatar, 6.04 percent in Kuwait and 4.43 percent in other nations. It is alarming that these fatalities occurred despite the completion of medical tests before departure.

The report has recommended the government to investigate the root causes of these deaths, conduct awareness programs and provide psychosocial counseling services to Nepali migrant workers.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that economic reforms would get pace along with implementation of the budget for the coming fiscal year 2024/25.

After inaugurating a modern building of Chautara Hospital today, the Prime Minister mentioned that the budget for the coming fiscal year was unveiled promoting production, productivity and employment.

"We have gained many achievements after the establishment of the republic. Quality change has been achieved from the infrastructure sector to public sector including health and education", he explained. 

The Prime Minister shared, "The budget for the coming fiscal year has announced that Nepal has now entered the new phase of economic reforms", stating that the federal government through policies, program and budget has forwarded programs of strategic importance in order to improve living standard of the people and making people of feel about the change.

He added that quality change in service delivery of hospitals has been seen in recent periods.

The existence of healthy citizens suggests that the country's economy and society are healthy, the Prime Minister said, adding that a populace that is physically and mentally fit can make substantial contributions to national development.

With this principle in mind, the government has accorded top priority to the enhancement of the health sector, he stated. "Noticeable strides in the health indicators in a short period is the achievement of the republic system."

He said that with the completion of a new building for the hospital, it will be able to function efficiently and effectively.

Recalling the time he spent in the district during the 'people's war', the Prime Minister said he used to visit Sindhupalchowk frequently during the war. I am familiar with the villages, settlements, cliffs, and the overall geography of the district." He shared that he still cherished the memories of being offered meals by senior mothers in the district during those days."

Krishna Kumar’s third book ‘Smart Bhikhamanga’ was released on the occasion of Republic Day on Tuesday.

The book was released under the moderator author Ravi Shankar at the New York Writers Workshop under the Himalayan Literature Festival in Kathmandu Guest House.

In this literary event, Journalist-Author Professor S.S. Dogra's sixth book "Udachi Vam" written in Russian language was also launched.

On this occasion, Chief Guest Swami Ekartananda-President and Spiritual Head of Ramakrishna Ashram Nepal, Special Guest Er Sachchidanand Mishra-Managing Director of "Himalini" magazine, former MP of Nepal Haricharan Sah, prominent educationist-writer of England-Maria Clare, Dr (Prof.) Vimuns Paudel of Tribhuvan University, Nepali young entrepreneur Ravi Kumar and many invited litterateurs from several countries were also present.