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Nepal is under the partial influence of westerly winds and local winds at present and as a result, the Himalayan region of the country will be generally cloudy, the Hilly region will be partly cloudy and the Tarai region will experience mainly fair weather today, according to the Weather Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.

There is a possibility of light to moderate rain and snowfall accompanied with thunder and lightning at one or two places in the Himalayan regions of Koshi, Gandaki, and Karnali Provinces.

According to the Department, there is a chance of hot days in the Tarai regions of Madhesh Province, as well as in the valleys and basins of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini and Sudurpashchim Provinces. Heat wave conditions are likely in the Tarai regions of Lumbini and Sudurpashchim Provinces today. 

Later tonight, there is a possibility of a partly cloudy situation in the Himalayan and hilly regions of Koshi Province and the Himalayan regions of Bagmati, Gandaki and Karnali Provinces, and the rest of the parts in the country will be mainly fair, the Department stated.

The Department has predicted the chances of light rain and snowfall in one or two places in the Himalayan region of the Koshi Province. 

The National Statistics Office has published the provincial-level results of the Nepal Multidimensional Survey 2081/82 amid a program held in Janakpur today.

The survey has shown that particularly in the Madhes Province, the situation of child mortality, malnutrition, adolescent girls fertility rate, and out-of-school children is more worrying compared to the national average.

According to the survey report, in Madhes Province the neonatal mortality rate is 20 per thousand live births and the under-five child mortality rate is 33, which is above the national average.

Similarly, the level of malnutrition also appears serious, with 23.2 percent of children being underweight for their age and 31.1 percent being stunted. 

Challenges have also been observed in the education sector in Madhesh Province. Here, 9.2 percent of children in grades 1–5, 8.2 percent in grades 6–8, and 22.6 percent in grades 9–12 are out of school. 

The participation rate in early childhood education programmes is only 26.3 percent.

Also, inequality has been found in access to health services. In Madhesh Province, only 70.4 percent of women have had four prenatal check-ups as recommended, while the number of people with health insurance is very low - only 6.6 percent for women and 3.9 percent for men.

In terms of reproductive health, the total fertility rate in Madhesh is 2.4, which is higher than the national average of 1.9. The adolescent (15–19 years) fertility rate is also high, recorded at 71 per 1000.

However, some positive aspects have also been observed.

 In Madhes, 98.5 percent of households have access to electricity, while 94.7 percent have telephone facilities.

Similarly, 78.9 percent of households are using devices that use the internet. 

Although the percentage of people using improved drinking water sources is high (99 percent), the report shows that it is concerning that E. coli bacteria were found in 65 percent of the water.

The National Statistics Office has expressed confidence that the data obtained from this survey will make a significant contribution to policy-making, planning, and monitoring of sustainable development goals.

This survey was conducted with the support of UNICEF Nepal.

Twelve houses were gutted in a fire that broke out at Bhairampur-5, Pratappur, Paschim Nawalparasi on Tuesday. The damage amounts to more than Rs 40 million.

According to Birdatta Panta, the Information Officer of the District Police Office, all houses have been reduced to ashes. 

The damage, including goods and cash at home, is estimated to be worth Rs 44. 48  million. 

Meanwhile, Pratappur Rural Municipality and Nepal Red Cross Society have distributed relief materials to the fire victims.

Member of Parliament from the constituency Bikram Khanal said that he is also active in providing relief materials to the victims.

The International Mother Earth Day is being observed in different countries of the world by organizing various events today, calling for collective efforts for the sustainable future.

Following the request of the United Nations, this Day has been celebrated every year on April 22 since 2009. This Day gives a message that collective efforts are needed to protect the Earth and maintain environmental balance. 

Oceans are being filled with plastics and turning more acidic rapidly. Millions of people are affected by extreme heat, wildfires, floods and landslides. As per the UN, the planet is losing around 10 million hectares of forest every year. 

Environment experts said a healthy ecosystem helps to protect people from diseases and the biological diversity makes it difficult for pathogens to spread rapidly. 

It is estimated that around one million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction. 

Climate change, man-made changes to nature, as well as activities that disrupt biodiversity such as deforestation, land-use change, intensified agriculture and livestock production or growing illegal wildlife trade, can accelerate the speed of destruction of the planet. Restoration of ecosystems is needed to improve this situation. 

Restoring our damaged ecosystems will help to end poverty, combat climate change and prevent mass extinction.