One killed in Chitwan rhino attack
A person died in a rhino attack in Madi Municipality-1, Chitwan district on Monday.
DSP Rabindra Khanal of the District Police Office, Chitwan said that 22-year-old Ashok Bhattarai died in the incident.
Critically injured Bhattarai was rushed to the Chitwan Medical College but breathed his last during the course of treatment, DSP Khanal added.
Chitwan National Park officials said that two people were killed in the rhino attacks in the current fiscal year in Chitwan.
Nine districts at high risk of forest fire
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has identified nine districts at high risk of forest fire.
According to the Authority, Banke, Bardiya, Chitwan, Dang, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Parsa, Salyan and Surkhet districts are categorized as having high risk of forest fire.
Likewise, Achham, Arghakhachi, Bara, Dadeldhura, Doti, Gorkha, Jajarkot, Kapilbastu, Makawanpur, Nawalpur, Pyuthan, Sindhuli and Udayapur also face risks of forest fire.
The Authority has said that effective measures including preparedness, surveillance and warning systems have been applied to mitigate the risks of forest fire in the districts.
Such measures are in place to make them more effective and result-oriented based on cooperation and coordination of the three layers of government.
Partial rain likely in high hills of three provinces
There is a partial impact of the westerly wind in the country at present, resulting in light rain in the high hills and mountainous areas in Gandaki, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces in the afternoon today.
According to the Weather Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the high hills in Gandaki, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces will remain partly cloudy and receive rain.
The mountainous belt of these provinces will receive snowfall as well.
Furthermore, some places in Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces are likely to receive light rain along with thunder.
The same patterns of weather systems are predicted for this evening as well in the provinces, the Division stated.
Jumla temperature drops to minus 0.71 degree Celsius, affects life
Increased cold following a snowfall in Jumla has disrupted normal life.
The temperature in the district, part of Karnali Province, has dropped to minus 0.71 degrees Celsius.
As water froze with extreme cold, the water pipes started cracking.
The disruption of water supplies has added woes to the local residents. “It is biting cold, paralyzing daily life in Jumla,” said Sunita Budha of Chandannath Municipality. Along with Jumla, cold waves have gripped Mugu, Humla, and Dolpa districts of the upper Karnali.
According to Asham Pura Karki, Chief of the Jumla Office of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the cold has increased significantly following the recent snowfall. The temperature dropped below zero, wreaking hostility to daily life particularly during mornings and evenings/nights.
Irrespective of the adversity, farmers have warmly welcomed the snowfall that occurred after a drought for months.
It is the first snowfall of the season. Local resident Lanka Budha of Tila Rural Municipality–1 said the snowfall was beneficial for winter crops: it helps retain soil moisture and supports plant growth. Jumla’s hills are now blanketed with snow.
The Agriculture Development Office, Jumla also stated that the snowfall is essential for winter crops like wheat, barley and potatoes to thrive.
Meanwhile, air services that had been disrupted due to snowfall resumed on Sunday, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Office, Jumla.
