Minister Badu pledges to introduce relief program for Darchula landslide survivors
Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Dilendra Prasad Badu has expressed commitment to immediately introduce a relief and rescue package for landslide survivors in Darchula. Minister Badu, who arrived in his home district Darchula inspected the flood and landslide-ravaged areas, pledged to bring relief packages in the first phase. Minister Badu along with province ministers Dr Rana Bahadur Rawal and Man Bahadur Dhami had made on-site inspections of the disaster-hit areas at Mahakali Municipality-4, Bangabagad. After inspection, the team said temporary residence would be arranged first for the survivors before taking them to another process. The team comprising federal ministers and provincial ministers had reached Darchula with relief materials including tents, foodstuffs and blankets for immediate relief. Minister for Internal Affairs Dr Rawal said, "The provincial government is immediately providing Rs 100,000 each to the families of the deceased. Preparation is being made to render relief to the flood and landslide survivors without leaving any stone unturned." At least five people have lost their lives while 10 have gone missing in the landslide. Eight locals have sustained injuries. The flood-fed Lasku rivulet and Mahakali river and landslide occurred at Naugad had caused huge loss to the lives and properties. Minister Badu directed the authorities concerned to carry out all-out efforts to provide relief to the disaster-hit people. Flooding in the Lasku rivulet had caused big loss to the entire family of Dhan Singh Karki- who has been running business at Mahakali Municipality-3, Duduri. Body of his wife Manmati Karki was found so far nearby Mahakali Municipality-5, confirmed Police Inspector at District Police Office, Darchula, Jagat Gahamagar. Dhan Singh and his both sons Deepak and Diensh are still missing. Inspector Gahamagar further stated that 77-year-old Nandaram Bohora of Mahakali Municipality-2 was found dead after being buried in his home. Other family members could manage to escape the incident but the old man could not. Among other deceased identified are Janaki Thagunna, 37, of Naugad Rural Municipality-1, Salla, 13-year-old Dhanuli Thagunna and Mohanram Parki, 68, of ward 2. Likewise, those missing in the landslide are Dhansingh Karki, Deepak Karki, Diensh Karki of Mahakali Municipality-3; Saraswoti Luhar and Mohan Luhar of ward 4; Manmati Shahu of ward 2; Manju Luhar, Dinesh Luhar, Sahan Luhar and Daljeet Luhar of ward 1. The Nepal Army's helicopter and air ambulance had rescued the injured people from Mahakali municipality and Naugad Rural Municipality. The army helicopter had also transported relief materials for the survivors both at the local level. Relief was distributed to the needy people in coordination with the local level and Nepal Red Cross Society. 100 families affected Floods and landslides have affected around 100 households of two local units in Darchula. According to the District Police Office, Darchula, flood and disaster have completely damaged 42 houses and partially damaged nine houses and put 40 houses at high risk. Police personnel were mobilized to collect the details of loss and damage. As informed, the disaster caused big loss to Mahakali municipality, particularly in its ward 1, 2, 3 and 4. Likewise, the landslide caused damage to the households of ward 1 of Naugad Rural Municipality. "The rivulet saw an increasing water level since 11:00 PM in the night," said Mangal Singh Thagunna, a local. He added that the flood started eroding soil at 1:00 AM next day. The swollen Lasku rivulet had taken away the settlements along the river banks, he shared. The Mahakali river was also swollen with the rise in the water level in Lasku rivulet. The Mahakali River had also entered into an embankment constructed by the Mahakali River Control Project with the increasing water current. Thagunna said the flood-fed river was sweeping away the human settlement. Duhun-Khalanga out of contact The flood occurred in the Mahakali and Lasku had also disrupted the road connecting Khalanga and Duhun Byas. The road from Ringat Lake to Kalaunbhir along the Darchula-Tingkar road section was obstructed. With the flood taking away the road linking Duhun Rural Municipality and Mahakali river, the people's mobility has become tougher in the areas. The Darchula-Tinker road which was constructed along the Mahakali embankment was completely damaged. The flood and landslide took away motor-able and suspension bridges constructed over Lasku rivulet. Two schools were broken down; equal numbers of schools were partially damaged in the incident. The quarter of Darchula Multiple College at Dungari has been at risk, police informed. The Mahakali river took away nine vehicles. As many as 263 cattle of local farmers in Mahakali municipality and Naugad rural municipality died in the incident.
Temporary cop vacancies announced
Nepal Police headquarters has called for applications for 115, 000 temporary police personnel who will be deputed for security during the parliamentary and provincial elections scheduled for November 20. The Department of Human Resources Development at Nepal Police Headquarters said that interested candidates can submit the application at the District Police Offices from September 15 to 22. The retired Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel and former forest guards will be given special priority. Nepali citizens who have completed 18 years of age and have not reached 54 years of age can apply till September 22. Any applicant other than Nepali citizens will be deemed disqualified. The working period of temporary personnel will be of 40 days and they will get Rs 40, 760 as salary (Rs 869) per day.
Queen to lie in state for four full days before state funeral
The Queen will lie in state for four days before her funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday, 19 September, BBC reported.
The public will be allowed to view the coffin during that time.
Before this, the Queen will be at rest in St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh for 24 hours from Monday 12 September, with people able to pay their respects.
Her family, politicians and world leaders will attend her state funeral at 11:00 BST. It will be a bank holiday.
The Queen's final journey will begin on Sunday, with her oak coffin being carried by her Balmoral gamekeepers - her own staff bringing her to a hearse that will take her to Edinburgh.
It will drive slowly to the Palace of Holyroodhouse for 16:00 BST.
On Monday afternoon, it will process to St Giles' Cathedral, with members of the Royal Family. There will be a service and the coffin will rest here for 24 hours, for people to pay their respects.
The following day, Princess Anne will accompany her mother's body as it is flown back to London. The Queen's coffin will be taken from Edinburgh Airport to Buckingham Palace via RAF Northolt.
On Wednesday afternoon, it will be taken to Westminster Hall, arriving at 15:00 BST. Four clear days of lying in state will happen from Thursday, before the funeral.
Monday 19th's state funeral will be followed by a procession from London to Windsor Castle. The Queen will be laid to rest at King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor.
Her journey, beginning in simplicity, will end with the sombre grandeur of the first state funeral that many people will have seen - the last being Sir Winston Churchill in 1965.
Ukraine counter-offensive: Russian forces retreat as Ukraine takes key towns
Russian forces have withdrawn from key eastern towns, as a rapid Ukrainian counter-attack makes further gains, BBC reported.
Ukrainian officials said troops entered Kupiansk, a vital eastern supply hub for Russian forces, on Saturday.
Russia's defence ministry then said its troops have retreated from nearby Izyum to allow them "to regroup".
The ministry also confirmed the withdrawal of troops from a third key town, Balaklyia, in order to "bolster efforts" on the Donetsk front.
The Ukrainian advances - if held - would be the most significant since Russia withdrew from areas around Kyiv in April.
In his nightly video address on Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Ukraine had now liberated 2,000 sq km (700 sq miles) from Russia since beginning a renewed counter-offensive earlier this month.
Russia's admission of a withdrawal from Izyum is significant because it was a major military hub for Moscow, according to BBC.
"A three-day operation was carried out on the drawdown and organised transfer of the Izyum-Balakliya group of troops to the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic," the Russian statement said.
"In order to prevent damage to the Russian troops, a powerful fire defeat was inflicted on the enemy."
Shortly afterwards, the chief administrator of Russian-controlled parts of the Kharkiv region recommended that its residents evacuate to Russia "to save lives", according to the Russian state-run Tass news agency.
And the governor of the neighbouring Belgorod region, in Russia, said mobile catering, heating, and medical assistance would be available to people queuing to cross the border.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said the latest developments had shown its forces were able to defeat the Russian army and could end the war faster with more Western weapons, BBC reported.
