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The 70th World Leprosy Day is being marked today by organizing different programs under the theme of “Act Now. End Leprosy”. The World Leprosy Day is observed on the last Sunday of January every year. Since 1954, this day is being observed all around the world in order to raise awareness about leprosy. Despite the fact that Nepal was declared leprosy-free in 2010, new cases continue to emerge, mostly in the Tarai districts. According to government figures, Nepal witnessed a total of 2,285 new patients of leprosy in the fiscal year 2079/080. Leprosy is not a disease that is passed down through the generations. However, doctors say that if someone is seen with leprosy disease in the family or community, the chances of seeing it in others are high. As per the government data, there are a total of 910 cases of leprosy in Madhes Province, which is around 40 percent of the total cases of the leprosy recorded in the country. Surprisingly, Saptari district in Madhes province has no leprosy cases. Likewise, 581 in Lumbini, 345 in Province 1, 205 in Sudurpaschim and 68 cases of leprosy are confirmed reported in Karnali province. The number of leprosy patients is less in Gandaki and Bagmati provinces compared to other provinces. In Nepal, 16 districts have recorded higher cases of leprosy. The districts include Jhapa, Morang, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Parasi, Rupandehi, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali, Kanchanpur and Achham. Starting its operation in Nepal in 1975, NLR Nepal is involved in leprosy, disabilities and inclusive development in the districts of Mahottari and Dhanusha of Madhes province. The organization distributes medicines and conducts preventive measures in those districts. Likewise, the Madhes Province Government has also upped its activities for the treatment and prevention of leprosy, as more cases were reported there. The Lalgadh Leprosy Hospital and Service Centre is offering services to those needy ones under the auspices of Nepal Leprosy Trust. Health Division Chief of Social Development Ministry of Madhes Province, Dr Mukti Narayan Shah, said that leprosy camp would be conducted in every single month in each district of the province to diagnose and cure the leprosy. The Lalgadh Leprosy Hospital and Service Centre is offering treatment to as high as 400 patients of skin and leprosy in every single day.

A total of 30 persons got injured in a stampede at Dhankuta stadium on Saturday. Of them, 18 persons are receiving treatment in BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) in Dharan, according to Superintendent of Police (SP) Laxmi Raj Adhikari. It is stated that two children have been referred to Golden Hospital in Biratnagar from BPKIHS. SP Adhiakri said that 12 persons have returned home after general treatment in Dhankuta Hospital. The health condition of all patients receiving treatment in Biratnagar and Dharan is improving. The injured have been identified as Bishnu Rai (31) and her six-year-old son Abihang, Binita Limbu (30), Sabin Limbu (13), Sunil Limbu (11), Shreya Katawal (12), Prakat Shrestha, Hira Rana (36), Ayusha Rai (30), Prakash Pradhan (50), and 12-year-old Pravesh Rai of Dhankuta. Likewise, Goma Karki (45), Anisha Rai (23), Narayan Rai (42), Buddhi Maya Limbu (34), Sabin Poudel (18), and Sandip Shah (4)2, are also injured in the stampede. Identity of a child of around four years is yet to be ascertained. Acting Chief District Officer of Dhankuta Mamata Adhikari said that an all-side meeting is summoned to postpone the Dhankuta festival in view of security issues. The stampede took place in a crowd among the locals who rushed to attend a live concert of popular singer Pramod Kharel in the provincial industrial and agriculture fair and avocado festival.

The hearing on a case related to Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane's citizenship has concluded. The Constitutional bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Hari Krishna Karki and Justices Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha, Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada, Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai and Anil Kumar Sinha concluded the hearing today. It has not been determined whether the bench will give its verdict on the case today or on another day. The hearing on the case was postponed for today after it could not be concluded on Wednesday. Earlier, the court had sought the relevant documents from the Department of Immigration, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the District Administration Office. It has been reported that all the documents and details have been presented before the court. It may be noted that Advocates Rabiraj Basaula, Yubaraj Poudel and others had filed a writ petition at the apex court posing questions over the eligibility of Deputy Prime Minister Lamichhane, also the Chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, as a member of Parliament. The writ petitioners have demanded cancellation of DPM Lamichhane's MP post arguing that he opened a political party and became a member of the House of Representatives without acquiring the Nepali citizenship.

The 5.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Bajura district on Tuesday has completely displaced 42 families. The displaced families include 12 from Himali Rural Municipality, 15 from Gaumul Rural Municipality and 15 from Badimalika Municipality, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Surya Bahadur Thapa. Similarly, 12 affected families from Badimalika, four from Himali and 14 from Gaumul are taking shelter in their relatives' houses, he said, adding that other five affected families are living in tents, and a family in a temple. Around 400 houses were damaged in the quake, according to the District Police Office. Most of the affected local level in the quake is Badimalika Municipality, said Thapa. The houses completely destroyed by the quake included 21 in Badimalika, three in Budhinanda, one in Budhiganga, 19 in Himali, 11 in Gaumul, four in Khaptad Chhededaha, one in Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality. Partially damaged houses included 31 in Badimalika, nine in Budhinanda, nine in Himali, five in Khaptad Chhededaha, and five in Gaumul. The houses that got general damages were 187 in Badimalika, one in Budhinanda, 40 in Himali and one in Swamikartik. A person was killed and many others were injured in the quake. The deceased was identified as Jamuna Rokaya of Jurile at Gaumul Rural Municipality-2. The injured have been identified as Rajdal Bohara of Gaumul-1, Chandra Mahat of Badimalika Municipality-2, six-year-old Sushrita Thapa of Himali Rural Municipality-1 and 16-year-old Sarita Nepali, said the police. Of the injured, Bohara, Mahat and Nepali were discharged from the hospital, while others are receiving treatment at a local health post, said Thapa, adding that 35 sheep belonging to one Amlis at Gaumul-1 were killed in the tragedy.  

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has formed an expert-led panel to seek recommendations to bring reforms in the country’s public transportation system. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Narayan Kaji Shrestha formed the ‘study task force on vehicle pollution, road safety and road accident reduction’. Former secretary Sharad Chandra Paudel is the coordinator of the seven-member task force. The task force is assigned to prepare a report based on its study. Former Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Nepal Police Bigyan Raj Sharma, Prof Dr Padam Bahadur Shahi of Pulchowk Engineering Campus, public transport expert Madhu Sudan Acharya and engineer Bijay Gautam are the members in the task force. The task force shall have a representative from the public transport entrepreneur. Director General of Transport Management Department Dr Tokraj Pandey is the member-secretary of the task force, the Ministry stated issuing a press statement.  

Shree Panchami also known as Basanta Panchami is being celebrated today across the country by worshiping Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, wisdom, learning, art, music and culture. The day is very special for students and new learners. Students take an early bath, observe the mass Saraswati Puja in schools, visit temples and listen to Basanta Shrawan. Many educational institutions arrange special prayers or pujas in the morning to seek blessings of the goddess. Poetic and musical gatherings are held in some communities in reverence of Saraswati. Many families mark this day by sitting with young children, encouraging them to write their first words with their fingers, while some just study or create music together. Goddess Saraswati is worshiped with various names such as Bharati, Sharada, Jagatmata, Bageshwari, Kaumari, Baradayani and Kamdhenu. People from Hindu and Sikh communities, mainly in Nepal and eastern India, observe this festival. It is believed that the festival marks the beginning of the spring season. Meanwhile, the Basanta Shrawan ritual is to be organized at Nasalchowk of Hanumandhoka in the capital at 10.47 am on Thursday. According to the Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Bikas Samiti (Calendar Determination Committee), the ritual event is to be held at Nasalchowk at the auspicious time of 10.47 am this morning. President Bidya Devi Bhandari is scheduled to attend the Basanta Shrawan ritual, Chief of Hanumandhoka Palace Management and Conservation Committee, Sandeep Khanal. Also present on the occasion would be the Vice-President, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers, members of parliament, constitutional bodies chiefs and members and province assembly members, among others. All necessary preparations for the event has been completed, the office said.

Six people, who were killed in the Pokhara plane crash on January 15, are yet to be identified. Their identity would be established through the DNA test, said the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. The TU Teaching Hospital said that the identity of six of the 48 dead people brought to the hospital for the postmortem are yet to be established. Identity of 42 dead people has been ascertained through forensic reports and fingerprints, said the Hospital’s forensic expert Dr Tulasi Kandel. “There were difficulties in ascertaining the identity of six people through forensic reports and fingerprints as their bodies were excessively burnt. So, we have started the process to identify them through their DNA test,” he said. DNA tests would be carried out in the Nepal Police Laboratory. The process of collecting DNA samples of the deceased and their relatives is underway, he said, adding that it takes at least 22 days to ascertain the identity of them. On January 15, an aircraft of the Yeti Airlines flying to Pokhara from Kathmandu crashed into the Seti gorge in Pokhara, killing all 72 people onboard the plane including four crew members. Bodies of 22 people killed in the crash were taken to Pokhara for the examination.  

Stakeholders have underlined the need to upgrade the Pokhara-Sunauli Siddhartha Highway which has been in dilapidated condition for over the years. It was raised at the public hearing events held in different parts of Syangja district on the initiative of the Department of Roads, Development Cooperation Implementation Division under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport. Various stakeholders have been raising the voice for the up-gradation of 157-km portion of Butwal-Pokhara section along the Siddhartha Highway. Representative of the Department of Roads, Yubaraj Satyal shared that suggestions were collected from different stakeholders and beneficiaries by organizing public hearings in Galyang, Waling, Bhirkot and Putalibazaar. Feedback collection was however done in other places from Butwal to Pokhara. “The Siddhartha Highway was getting narrowed and dilapidated. There is no option to upgrade the highway”, Waling Municipality mayor Krishna Khand said. It has become urgent to enhance the standards of the road section that connects the Bhairahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara International Airport. Likewise, Pitambar Shrestha, chairperson of a struggle committee formed for the protection of house and huts built alongside the highway, said the use of the highway would decrease if its up-gradation was not done in a timely manner. “Trend of using alternative route is on the rise so the up-gradation of the highway is a must”, he said. Though it has been 52 years since the highway has come into operation, it was disappointing to await for the up-gradation for a long time, he noted.