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The Meteorological Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has predicted the possibility of rain due to the combined influence of westerly and local winds.

The westerly wind has had a general impact in Lumbini, Sudurpashchim, Karnali, and Gandaki Provinces, while there is a partial effect of westerly and local winds in Koshi, Madhesh, and Bagmati Provinces. Currently, the hilly regions of Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, and Gandaki Provinces are partially cloudy, with the remaining areas being partially cloudy to mainly fair.

According to the division, the weather in the Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki Provinces will be partially cloudy to mainly fair this afternoon. One or two areas in the hilly regions of these provinces are likely to experience light rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning, while there is also a chance of light rain tonight in one or two parts of the Koshi and Gandaki Provinces.

On Tuesday, the hilly areas of Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki Provinces are expected to remain partially to generally cloudy, with a chance of light rainfall in a few areas. The same atmospheric conditions are likely to continue into the night as well.

Climatologists have said that a variation has occurred on the monsoon system also due to climate change from global warming. They reasoned that the monsoon this year withdrew from the country 10 days later compared to the previous years.

Climatologist Manjit Dhakal considers the delayed withdrawal of the monsoon as an alteration in the monsoon pattern. According to him, this trend can be considered as an impact of climate change.

Similarly, the relentless rain on September 27 and 28, he assessed, is also due to the effect of climate change. However, climatologist Dhakal has pointed out the need of carrying out research on such climate-related hazards.

He suggested implementation of the concept of climate-friendly development for sustainable development. "It has become inevitable to give priority to climate adaptation programs," he said, quoting the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Meteorologist Bishnu Ghimire also indicated the need of research to reach a conclusion whether or not the delayed withdrawal of the monsoon system is due to the effects of climate change. His understanding is also that there is an alteration in the monsoon pattern due to the climate change impact.

The Police has urged drivers to use alternative routes to the Hetauda-Kulekhani-Phakhel-Kathmandu road as the road has been disrupted at a place called Heavy at Indrasarobar Mural municipality-2 and 3.

Police Inspector at the Area Police Office Bhimphedi, Lalita Dhakal said that drivers are advised to use the Tribhuvan highway and Kanti highway while traveling from Hetauda to Kathmandu. She said that the road near Heavy uphill near Simkhola, Kulekhani has been damaged to the point that even light vehicles cannot climb the slope.

In view of this, the local police have been guiding the vehicles from Bhainse towards Kathmandu via Palung of the Tribhuvan highway, Inspector Dhakal said.

At least 1, 300, 000 people have exited Kathmandu Valley in a week for their home districts to celebrate Dashain, the biggest festival of Nepal. According to the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE), this number includes those people who left the Valley till day.

FNNTE had estimated that around 1.8 million passengers would exit the Valley via road transport for Dashain this year.

FNNTE president Bijaya Swar said that although it was estimated that around 1.5 million to 1.8 million passengers will be leaving Kathmandu Valley for their hometowns for celebrating Dashain this year, 1.3 million, less than the estimated number, left the Valley due to the disruption of roads from flooding and landslides triggered by incessant rains on September 27 and 28.

"The roads are in poor shape and travel is difficult. Despite this situation, 1.3 million people have left the Valley for their home districts to celebrate Dashain festival," he said.

According to Kuwar, the exact figure of people leaving the Valley is awaited as people will be leaving for their homes until Friday.

Around 1, 800, 000 people had left the Kathmandu Valley for their home districts away from the Valley for the Dashain festival last year.

Around 105, 698 foreign tourists have visited Mustang in the last nine months, according to the Area Conservation Office, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP).

At least 9, 081 visitors from the SAARC countries and 15,617 from third countries arrived in Mustang as of October 6. Eight thousand and 397 tourists entered Mustang via the Thorang-La Pass at an altitude of 5,400 meters.

The Office said 2,896 tourists had entered the district in a month's period until October 2.

Tourist arrivals have surged at Muktinath temple, Kagbeni, the Korala border transit, Lomanthang, Sinja Jong Cave, Jomsom, Dhumba Lake, Thini, Marpha, and Lete among the major tourism destinations in Mustang at present.

It has been learnt that 121, 352 foreign tourists had visited the trans-Himalayan district in 2023.

A dry landslide occurred this morning at Bhaluwapani of Katari Municipality-14 has blocked the Katari-Ghurmi section of the Siddhicharan Highway.

According to Area Police Office Katari's Chief and Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kamal Bajgain, the landslide that occurred in the wee hours (around 2:00 am) today has completely disrupted the Highway. 

The landslide is substantial and the Road Division Office at Harkapur in Okhaldhunga has been requested to assist in clearing the landslide debris.

Ward chair Ambar Bahadur Magar said the landslide has buried around 150 meters of the Highway.

A bus and a Tata sumo are stranded at the site while vehicles expecting to pass through the Highway have stopped at the Katari Bazaar.

The disruption is to cause significant inconvenience to passengers heading to the hilly districts in Koshi Province: Khotang, Okhaldhunga and Solukhumbu via this route to vice-versa.

The Highway serves as the shortest route connecting the Terai to hilly districts in eastern Nepal.  

The Salt Trading Corporation (STC) has assured of sufficient supplies of sugar during the festivals. As it said, additional imports of sugar have begun bearing in mind its increased demand for festivals.

On Wednesday, the STC brought 2,200 sacks of sugar weighing 50 kilos each to its warehouse in Birgunj from India.

The imports continue and there will be no shortage of sugars in Dashain, Tihar, Nepal Sambat, and Chhath festival, it is said.

The Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology has urged parents and guardians to ensure their children receive eye check-ups after birth, before starting school, and annually thereafter.

Symptoms such as reddish eyes, blurred vision, eye pain, teary eyes, eye discharge, and uneven eye sizes require prompt medical attention. Anyone experiencing these symptoms is advised to visit nearby health facilities or hospitals.

On the occasion of World Sight Day 2024 on October 10, the Institute stressed the need for eye check-ups for children, especially for those with white spots on their eyes, premature births, or low birth weight. This year's theme for the Day was "Children, Love Your Eyes."

According to the World Health Organization, the increased use of digital devices among children and reduced outdoor activities have caused various eye issues among them. By 2050, it is estimated that around 50 percent of the global population will have sight problems.

The Institute has warned that failing to provide timely treatment for vision issues can lead to serious consequences for educational learning among children. However, timely intervention and the use of glasses can reduce these risks by 44 percent. Currently, around 45 million children worldwide have vision problems and many of them have been denied access to necessary treatment.

In Nepal, about 1.1 million children have vision defects, and around 700,000 have no access to eye care facilities, according to the Institute.