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The local administration in Banke has urged the locals to remain cautious as the water level in the Rapti River has been increasing. The river has been swollen due to torrential rain since Tuesday night, said Rupan Gyawali, Information Officer at the District Emergency Operation Center, Banke.

The water level in the river has been measured 3.18 meters high at 9 am on Wednesday while water level measuring 5 meters is an alarming sign and 5.4 meters signifies a danger line, it has been said. Banke measured 150 milliliters rain in the past six hours, said Gyawali.

The water level in the river is predicted to increase throughout the day today as moderate rain is predicted, he said, adding that settlements including Holiya, Chaupheri, Betahani and Kamdi of Duduwa Rural Municipality and Baijapur, Binauna and Phattepur of Raptisonari Rural Municipality are at risk of being washed away.

The caution notice has been issued following the increment of the water level in the river, said Chief District Officer, Banke, Surya Bahadur Khatri.

Local people are requested to stay alert and not to resort to any activities near the swollen river like fishing and collecting logs brought by the river.

Sisneri road section that is connects Hetauda with Kathmandu has been obstructed since this morning due to landslide.

Police Inspector at Area Police Post, Bhimphedi, Pratima Karki shared the road section was disrupted due to landslide in Indrasarobar Rural Municiplaity-3, Ramchandra Bhanjyang last night.

With the rainfall continuing, efforts to remove the landslide debris have turned to be challenging in the landslide-hit area.

Traffic movement would be made smooth after clearing off the road, he said, adding the authority concerned would start working once the rain stops.

However, the Kulekhani-Fakhel road section and Tribhuvan highway are operational. Likewise, the Kantipath connecting Kathmandu-Hetauda has also been obstructed with the rainfall.

Garbage management related work in Kathmandu Valley would be affected for two days, today and tomorrow, as the road from Sisdol to Bancharedanda in Nuwakot district has to be repaired.

Garbage-crammed vehicles plying the road leading to the destinations where garbage of Kathmandu is managed are facing problems in movement during maintenance process, according to the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC).

KMC's Environment Department said that that garbage collection in Kathmandu Valley and dumping in Bancharedanda, two kilometer away from Sisdol, will be affected for two days since the area leading to Bancharedanda has to be cleared off.

Currently, vehicles have to pass through heaps of garbage piled on various places along the Sisdol and Bancharedanda road to dump the trashes. Sarita Rai, chairperson of Department, shared that the incessant rain for the past two days has led to problem in dumping of wastages.

Around 300 vehicles laden with garbage collected from 18 local levels of the Valley ply the road leading Bancharedanda on a daily basis. Of late, only around 100 such vehicles are carrying the garbage to Bancharedanda due to incessant rain.

The KMC has issued a notice stating that fine worth Rs 500 will be imposed each time if garbage is not sorted at the source starting from 17 July this year.

The weather will be partly to completely cloudy throughout the country with light to moderate rainfall in most of the places due to the influence of the monsoon wind.

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said the monsoon has its influence throughout the country.

There is possibility of generally to completely cloudy condition throughout the country due to the impact of this monsoon system with chances of light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning at many places of the hilly region and at a few places in the remaining regions.

There is possibility of heavy rainfall at a few places of Province no 1 and Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces, and at one or two places of Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces.

On Tuesday, the weather will be generally to fully cloudy throughout the country with chances of light to moderate rain at many places.

Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has pointed out the need of mobilizing resources and capital in an integrated way to strengthen the country's economy. 

Budget's goals and vision have been clear and it would address the country's needs, he said while responding to queries raised by lawmakers in today's meeting of the National Assembly on the Appropriation Bill for the next fiscal year, 2022/23.  

Presenting the figure of Rs 358 billion worth of the import of agricultural products on average every year, the minister said incentive policy has been forwarded to discourage imports by increasing exports. Development of entrepreneurship and rural economy has been emphasized. 

Linking the center of the local level by concrete roads, the increment of industrial produce, the development of the tourism sector and pulling people out of poverty have been in the government's priorities, he said. 

Committing his full accountability to the budget for the next FY, the minister said the incumbent government would take it ownership in full-fledged. The government has managed policies on the subject of electric vehicles with a clear vision and restrictions on the import of luxury vehicles were on, he said. 

Arrangements have been made for the government to purchase sanitary pads worth Rs 2 billion produced within the country, he said, expressing the hope that country's economy affected to some extent by fuel price hike in the international market would be made strong through the implementation of the government's policies, programs and budget.

Newly appointed Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jeevan Ram Shrestha has stressed the need for promoting tourism, a strong base for the country's economy. 

He made this statement after assuming office today. "There is a need to revive tourism marred by prolonged Covid-19. The ministry has various national pride projects which must be completed on time," he said.

On the occasion, he pledged to carry out his duty within a framework of procedure, acts and rules of the ministry. Prior to this, employees at the ministry welcomed the minister.

Newly appointed ministers of the CPN (Unified Socialist) are scheduled to take the oath of office and secrecy on Monday.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari will administer the oath of office to the newly appointed ministers at the Office of the President today.

Likewise, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is set to administer the oath to a Minister of State at his office in Singhadurbar today.

Jeevan Ram Shrestha has been entrusted with the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation; Metmani Chaudhary the Ministry of Urban Development; Bhawani Prasad Khapung the Ministry of Health and Population and Sher Bahadur Kunwar the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security.

Likewise, Hira Chandra KC has been appointed the Minister of State for Health and Population. The Council of Ministers was reshuffled on Sunday.

The District Police Office, Chitwan arrested a man with a home-made pistol and its two round bullets.  

The arrestee has been identified as Prakash BK (32) of Bharatpur metropolis-10, Swamichowk and is currently residing at Bharatpur-5, Bikaschowk. 

Police said that they have also recovered Rs 114, 000 in cash, gold chain and five mobile sets from the room of BK. 

Further investigation into the incident is underway, police said.