Submit your Article

The weather is generally cloudy in the Himalayan and hilly regions of Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali, Sudurpaschim, Koshi and Bagmati Provinces, while the other parts of the country are partly cloudy, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology stated. 

The Weather Forecasting Division of the Department mentioned that light rain coupled with snowfall is occurring in few Himalayan and hilly areas of Koshi, Gandaki, Lumbini and Karnali Provinces. 

The weather will be generally cloudy over the Himalayan region of the country, while the hilly and Tarai regions will be partly cloudy this afternoon. 

There is a possibility of light rain and snowfall with thunder and lightning at a few places in the Himalayan regions of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and at one or two places in the remaining Himalayan regions. There is also a possibility of light rain with thunder and lightning at one or two places in the hilly regions of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces. 

As per its meteorological analysis, the Division shared that Nepal is under the influence of a westerly low-pressure system at present.

The Langtang National Park has provided relief assistance to the farmers affected by the wildlife of the national park. 

According to the national park officials, the large scale of damage to the farmers was caused by the wild boar in the vicinity of the national park in Rasuwa district. 

So far, 157 farmers have reported the losses to their farms by the wild animals. 

According to Rupesh Lama, an official of the national park, 111 farmers were affected by wild boar, 34 by monkey, 11 by leopard and one by bear. For the damages in this fiscal year, the national park distributed nearly 1.5 million in cash assistance to the farmers, which the national park said is for the reduction of human-wildlife conflicts.

Lama shared that some farmers are left to receive the relief amount.   

The national park is providing relief assistance to the farmers on the basis of Wildlife Damage Relief Distribution Guidelines, 2080 BS.  

The local community people said that the northern part of the district is largely affected by bears and wild boars, while the monkey menace is higher in the southern belt.

Likewise, the national park provides relief to those left injured by the animals' attacks. 

For those injured, the relief amount is given as per the medical costs paid for the government medical centers and hospitals.    

The Department of Commerce, Supplies, and Consumer Protection has confiscated 6,377 cooking gas cylinders that were improperly stored in the Harisiddhi-based warehouse of Shriram Gas Industry in Lalitpur. 

The Department’s monitoring team seized the huge quantity of filled gas cylinders, each with 14.2-kilogram gas, to curb the artificial shortage of cooking gas.

The industry has been fined Rs 300,000 by the Department. 

It has been instructed that arrangements be made for the sale and distribution of these gas cylinders under the coordination and supervision of the Nepal Oil Corporation. 

The Department has urged for facilitation of the distribution system to avoid creating artificial shortages that could impact supply.

The Corporation has indicated that concerns over potential disruptions in gas supply due to tensions in West Asia have led consumers to hoard more gas, resulting in complications in the supply chain. 

Health insurance services are to be provided based on the national identity card from now onward. 

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Dr Krishna Prasad Paudel, Executive Director of the Health Insurance Board, and Namraj Ghimire, Director General of the Department of National ID and Civil Registration, on providing health insurance services based on the national identity card. 

Bikesha Malla, Information Officer at the Board, said citizens' identities will be digitally verified through the national identity card number, making the health insurance system safer, faster, and more reliable. 

"As per the current agreement, we will integrate the data of the Board and the Department," he said, adding "We will provide health insurance services based on the national identity card."

He also mentioned that registration and renewal based on the national identity card will begin from April 8. 

Currently, 10.2 million insured individuals are affiliated with the Health Insurance Board.