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The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 5.17 points to close at 1,863.94 points on Wednesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 0.21 points to close at 358. 40 points.

A total of 3,157,062-unit shares of 288 companies were traded for Rs 782 billion.

Meanwhile, Global IME Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd. was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 8. 07 percent. Likewise, Corporate Development Bank Limited was the top loser as its price fell by 6.38 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 87 trillion.

The border guarding forces of Nepal and India are discussing wide-ranging issues related to border security and management, at a time when Nepal is grappling with a 6.4 magnitude quake and aftershocks that have left behind a trail of death and devastation. 

The seventh edition of bilateral talks between the Armed Police Force and Sashatra Seema Bal kicked off in New Delhi on Monday. According to officials, the two sides are discussing measures to curb trans-frontier crimes and timely sharing of intelligence inputs, among other issues.

As per the SSB, “the annual talks on mutual issues have been held alternatively in India and Nepal since 2012”.

This annual meet is significant as the heads of APF and SSB engage in discussions on border-related matters such as trans-border crimes and intelligence-sharing. The meeting also helps in strengthening coordination between the two border guarding forces for more effective management of the open and unfenced India-Nepal border.

APF and SSB are also expected to raise other issues such as effective border management, a new mechanism to collaboratively combat trans-border crimes, facilitation of real-time information and exchange of critical information.

The last coordination meeting between the two border guarding forces was held at Kathmandu in Sept 2022. 

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) on Wednesday handed over a cheque of Rs 10 million to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal as per its commitment to provide monetary assistance to the earthquake survivors in Jajarkot and Rukum West.

A delegation led by Director General of CAAN Pradeep Kumar had reached the official residence of Prime Minister in Baluwatar this morning to hand over the cheque.

The amount will be deposited in the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund, according to CAAN Spokesperson Jagannath Niraula.

An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale hit Jajarkot at 11:47 pm on Friday killing at least 157 people.

The government has urged the bodies concerned to carry out works for the prevention of possible disease outbreak, malnutrition and psycho-social problems following the earthquake and for their proper management.

Ministry spokesman Dr Prakash Budhathoki said the Ministry has urged all the concerned agencies for the same.

He said the Ministry has today mobilized a three-member team from the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division to the earthquake-hit areas for assessing in coordination with the provinces the likelihood of disease outbreak. 

The Ministry stated that the people injured due to the earthquake and its aftershocks are being provided medical treatment at the health post and hospitals at the respective local level wards or at the provincial hospital in the district.

Among those injured persons referred for treatment, 19 are receiving treatment at the Provincial Hospital Surkhet, 46 at the Bheri Hospital Nepalgunj, eight at the TU Teaching Hospital Kathmandu and one at the National Trauma Centre.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 300 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 114, 700 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 115, 000 per tola on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 114, 150 per tola. It was traded at Rs 114, 450 per tola.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,385 per tola today.

The Karnali Province government has handed over Rs 24.5 million to the earthquake survivors of Jajarkot, Rukum Paschim and Salyan districts.

A total of 16 local levels from these districts were provided monetary support.

Bheri and Nalgadh Municipalities and Barekot Rural Municipality of Jajarkot were provided Rs 2.5 million each, while Kushe Rural Municipality Rs 2 million, Chhedgad Municipality and Junichande Rural Municipality Rs 1 million each.

Government spokesperson and Minister for Internal Affairs and Law, Krishna Bahadur GC, shared this information. He added that Shivalaya Rural Municipality was provided half million rupees.

Similarly, in Rukum Paschim district, Athbiskot and Sanibheri Municipalities got Rs 2.5 million each, while Chaurajahari and Triveni Rural Municipality got Rs 2 million each. Musikot Municipality got Rs 1 million and Banphikot Rural Municipality received half million rupees.

Darma Rural Municipality of Salyan was provided Rs 1.5 million and Bagchaur and Bangad Kupinde Municipality each got half million rupees.

Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim suffered worst in the November 3 earthquake.

As part of the commemorating 20 years of successful implementation of the High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) in Nepal, through grant assistance of Government of India, the Embassy of India formally handed over the Mangaladevi Birthing (Maternity) Center at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu to the hospital representatives.

Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Anita Devi, and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava jointly handed over the center to the hospital representatives amidst a function.

Political representatives, officials of Nepal Government, social workers and local community leaders were also present at the event. 

Furthermore, agreements for 3 more HICDP projects being undertaken in Nepal under Indian grant assistance at total estimated cost of Rs 130 million in the Baitadi and Mustang districts were also signed on the occasion, reads a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital is one of the most prestigious medical institutions in Nepal.

Mangaladevi Birthing Center at TUTH has been built with Government of India’s financial assistance of Rs 44.04 million as an HICDP under Nepal-India Development Cooperation framework.

In addition, 2 sets of 40 KVA Diesel Generators, 5 Buses and 2 Ambulances have been provided to different departments, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, for this hospital in which 1 Ambulance is fully equipped with Advanced Life Support.

TUTH representatives informed that this birthing center is being managed by nurses and could function as the model birthing center for implementation in other regions across Nepal, which could result in reduced maternal mortality rates, according to the statement.

HICDPs, earlier known as Small Development Projects, were launched on  November 7, 2003 through bilateral agreement between Government of Nepal and Government of India regarding India’s Grant Assistance for Implementation of Small Development Projects through Nepali entities working at local level.

 There projects are an innovative and important segment of the Development Partnership with Nepal and are being implemented in the priority sectors of the Government of Nepal for creating infrastructure to enhance the quality of life at the grassroots level for the people of Nepal.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Srivastava highlighted that this journey of implementation of HICDP projects over the past 20 years has been very successful.

He expressed satisfaction that since 2003, nearly 550 projects have been taken up under this framework in various sectors including Education, Health, Road & Bridges, River Training, Drinking Water, Electrification, Irrigation, Culture, Social Welfare etc, which have impacted people’s lives directly.

Of these, 480 projects have been completed and remaining are ongoing.

This success translates into over 27 projects every year or simply more than 1 new project being implemented every fortnight in Nepal under Nepal-India Development Cooperation over the last 20 years.

The Ambassador thanked the Government of Nepal for its support in this regard, and committed to further enhance and strengthen the implementation of HICDPs in future, the statement further reads.

These HICDPs have been diverse in sector and geographical spread. It covers all the provinces of Nepal. 84 Projects have been undertaken in Koshi Province, 81 projects in Madhesh Province, 105 projects have been undertaken in Bagmati Province, 61 Projects in Gandaki Province, 60 projects have been undertaken in Lumbini Province, 14 in Karnali Province and 41 in Sudurpaschim Province. These are apart from 107 projects that spread in more than one province.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Mahat thanked India for its continuous support in the creation of development infrastructure in Nepal.

He highlighted that HICDP projects are the cornerstone of the development partnership between India and Nepal.

He assured that Government of Nepal’s full support in implementation of such projects which impact the livelihood of common Nepali people.

Similarly, Minister Anita Devi highlighted that the key aspects of such projects is their quick gestation period and role that they play in economic development at the local level. She thanked the Government of India for its support. She highlighted that HICDPs, despite being small in size, create a big impact in lives of the common Nepali people and therefore have been appropriately described as Highly Impactful in bringing changes in community.

Further, Government of India has also been gifting ambulances and school buses every year to various institutions working in the health and education sectors in Nepal on the occasion of Independence Day and Republic Day of India.

So far, 974 ambulances and 234 school buses have been gifted to beneficiaries in different parts of Nepal which translate into one ambulance being gifted every week and 1 school bus every month. These services are placed to be part of the first line of treatment and contribute significantly to the health care and education sector. This initiative is connecting with grass-root people even in the remotest parts of Nepal.

Children comprise more than half of the human casualties in the 6.4 magnitude quake that struck Jagarkot and Rukum West last Friday, police data show, putting the number of children succumbing to the disaster at over 80. 

The disaster has rendered about 10000 people shelterless, said government officials, while initial estimates put the number of school buildings destroyed in the quake at 300.

 Heather Campbell, Country Director for Save the Children in Nepal, said, “Children are scared. Many have lost relatives; thousands have lost their homes. The constant aftershocks and terror of another quake means they have been forced into the open. With temperatures dropping, they need shelter, warmth and nutritious food.   

 “We are worried that the longer the children live outside, the greater the chances of contracting pneumonia. They are also at risk of contracting waterborne diseases, as safe drinking water is scarce. There is an urgent need for toilets and washing facilities,” Campbell said. 

“Children are vulnerable and need spaces where they are safe and can continue to learn. We need to ensure their safety and protection as disasters like this can lead to severe mental distress. Recovery from the trauma of losing loved ones and homes will not be a quick process. They need stability.”  

 14 schools destroyed in Bheri 

In Bheri municipality, the jolt has destroyed 14 school buildings, whereas 78 school buildings have suffered damage, the municipality’s data show. The tremor has killed 11 students and three teachers in the municipality, while 31 students have sustained injuries. 

Forty-seven classrooms, nine toilets and four compound walls have turned into rubble in the quake, whereas 122 school buildings, 476 classrooms, 38 toilets, nine fences, one science lab, nine ICT labs and two solar systems have suffered damage.

In Rukum West, the quake has claimed 14 students, destroyed 15 school buildings and caused damage to 20 schools. 

President reaching out

President Ramchandra Paudel on Tuesday reached out to the survivors of the quake and assured them of all possible help from the state in rebuilding their lives. He visited Sitali Kami of Bheri municipality-1, who is undergoing treatment at Jajarkot district hospital for injuries sustained in the quake. 

He assured Sitali that the state would provide assistance for the reconstruction of her house damaged in the quake. Paudel also stressed that the survivors need temporary shelters. 

While interacting with the survivors at Thaple of Bheri-3 after visiting the spot where Nalagadh municipality’s deputy mayor Sarita Singh had lost her life in a house collapse, President Paudel pledged that the government will expedite reconstruction works and address other concerns of the survivors in a gradual manner. 

No relief for survivors 

Five days into the quake, government agencies have still not been able to provide for most of the survivors facing a grim winter with almost all of their possessions lost, as if bereavement were not enough. Local levels have not been able to provide blankets and bedding in required numbers to people like Ganesh Thapa of Bheri-3, who said he has not yet received warm clothing. 

Relief materials have not yet reached most of the remote places outside the district headquarters, with representatives of various organizations distributing these materials in the villages as per their convenience instead of giving due priority to the most affected ones. 

Local communities do not know how to remain safe even as frequent aftershocks have been occurring here.

Meanwhile, relief materials reached Barekot rural municipality on Monday, two days after the earthquake. Chair of the municipality Chair Bir Bahadur Giri said,  “As people in the rural municipality have been living out in the open, protecting them from cold is a major challenge.”

NC, CPN (US) donate to relief fund

Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN (Unified Socialist) have made contributions to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund.

A delegation of NC office-bearers, including President Sher Bahadur Deuba, visited Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the PM’s official residence in Baluwatar to hand over a cheque bearing Rs 5m, meant for the survivors of the quake. A delegation under CPN(Unified Socialist) Chair and former PM, Madhav Kumar Nepal, presented a cheque bearing Rs 2.5m to PM Dahal.  

CPN(US) also submitted a nine-point proposal to the government regarding post-earthquake relief, rescue and rehabilitation efforts. The party lauded government measures in response to the earthquake, particularly the search and rescue operations, recommending that the federal government oversee and facilitate the implementation of a one-door policy for rescue and rehabilitation efforts by ensuring the leading roles of provinces and local governments toward that end. 

During the meeting, PM Dahal assured that the best practices in post-disaster management will be followed. He said, “With the search and rescue operations completed, the focus has now shifted to the second-phase response, including relief and rehabilitation.”

Dahal said he held separate meetings with the ambassadors from the neighboring countries regarding disaster relief. 

The meetings with the ambassadors focused on the management of storage facilities at the local level and development of integrated settlements based on geographical features of the affected areas.