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The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has rescued a total of 2,919 homeless people living in the street in the past eight years, officials said. 

The KMC began collaborating with the Manav Sewa Ashram on November 17, 2017 to rescue, manage and rehabilitate helpless street dwellers.

Ramji Adhikari, Chairperson of the Ashram, shared that of those rescued, 315 have died. 

Adhikari added that 713 rescued people were reunited with their families, while 336 have been reintegrated into their communities. 

Currently, 268 people rescued from KMC streets are sheltering in the Ashram, he added. 

Likewise, Sunita Dangol, Acting Mayor of KMC, said that the rescue program was being carried out as a part of the preparation to declare the city 'street people-free'. 

Dangol stressed that making such a declaration sustainable would require coordinated legal, administrative and practical measures.

Similarly, Bishnu Prasad Joshi, Chief of City Police Force, mentioned that efforts to identify and bring homeless people to Ashram continue. 

He shared that the KMC has already provided the Ashram with over Rs 28.73 million along with a dedicated vehicle during this period. 

Ashram's Chairperson Adhikari informed that the Ashram coordinates identification, recommendation and management of those left stranded in the street. 

He also added that people's representatives, KMC's administrative staff, City Police Force among others are actively coordinating efforts to rescue stranded street people.

A total of 43 places along Narayangadh-Muglin road section have been identified as at risk of landslides, according to a recent study conducted by the Road Division Office, Bharatpur.

The study found that eight locations are at high risk, 22 at moderate risk, and 13 at low risk. Among them, Tuin Khola has been categorized as a particularly high-risk area.

Office engineer Arjun Ghimire shared that Kali Khola and Namsi Khola, along with Tuin Khola, are among the most vulnerable areas of this 33.25 km-road section. 

Ghimire added that other high-risk areas include the stretch between Tuin Khola and Chisenji, two locations at Char Kilo, Mauri Khola and Seti Dobhan.

He explained, "Falling rocks are a major problem between Tuin Khola and Chisenji while areas near Tuin, Kali, and Namsi rivers are highly prone to landslides."

Ghimire further mentioned that of the two locations at Char Kilo, one faces landslide risks and the other is vulnerable to mudflows. Mauri Khola and Seti Dobhan face high risk of debris-filled landslides.

Additional areas identified as risk-prone include Sohra Kilo, Satra Kilo, Dumre Khola and Simaltal. These areas have been under the threat of landslides since last year. 

Narayan Lamichhane, Chief of the Road Division Office, Bharatpur, said that they have already submitted a procurement master plan to the Department of Roads to mitigate landslide risks in the Tuin, Kali, and Namsi rivers while the design process is in its final stage. 

He shared that Rs 250 million has been allocated from the disaster management funds to implement disaster risk reduction measures in high-risk areas, with an additional Rs 200 million has been set aside for other vulnerable sections along the road. 

According to Lamichhane, a budget of Rs 200 million has been allocated for landslide prevention in other areas as well.

Stating that preparations have been made for a tender for landslide prevention works, he said the mapping work is complete, and the tender will be called in a few days. 

Landslide prevention and mitigation work will be carried out in risky areas before the monsoon, he added.

The Office has said that it has made the necessary preparations as roads may be at risk of landslides with the onset of the rainy season.

A few years ago, the earth on the slope above the road was cut during road expansion. 

The road traffic is interrupted during the rainy season when the debris from the slope cut during the road expansion and landslides from new areas fall on the road.

More than 10,000 vehicles pass daily along this road. This road is considered a lifeline for the federal capital, Kathmandu.

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), in partnership with the Government of Germany, today inaugurated the groundbreaking ceremony for the Lekhnath–Damauli 220 kV Transmission Line Project at the Damauli Substation in Tanahun District.

NEA Managing Director Hitendra Dev Shakya,  German Ambassador to Nepal Udo Volz,  Director of KfW Development Bank for Bangladesh and Nepal Michael Sumser, as well as senior representatives from NEA, the German Embassy, KfW Development Bank, GIZ, local governments and other key stakeholders attended the ceremony. 

Co-financed by Germany through KfW Development Bank, the project includes the construction of a 45 km long 220 kV double-circuit transmission line and the development of modern gas-insulated substations in Lekhnath and Damauli, reads a statement issued by the German Embassy in Kathmandu. 

With a transmission capacity of around 1000 MW, the project will strengthen the regional electricity grid and enable efficient evacuation of electricity from hydropower plants in the region, including the Tanahun Hydropower Project.

“The expansion of reliable transmission infrastructure is essential for Nepal’s growing energy needs,” said Ambassador Udo Volz. “Germany is proud to partner with Nepal in strengthening its electricity grid and enabling the use of its vast renewable energy potential. Projects like this ensure that clean energy reaches homes, businesses and industries, contributing to sustainable economic growth.”. 

Germany has also supported renewable energy solutions ranging from household solar systems and solar irrigation to grid-connected solar installations, contributing to around 55 MW of solar photovoltaic capacity in Nepal.  

In Gandaki Province, German Technical Cooperation has supported Pokhara Metropolitan City in developing a five-year Municipal Energy Plan to guide efficient energy use and the adoption of clean energy technologies. 

German Technical Cooperation has also supported the establishment of two electric vehicle charging stations in Pokhara and Damauli and the integration of two micro-hydropower plants in Baglung into the national grid of the Nepal Electricity Authority.

Reliable transmission infrastructure such as the Lekhnath–Damauli line provides the foundation for greater use of clean electricity, including electric mobility and other low-carbon solutions, supporting Nepal’s ambition to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels.

A helicopter belonging to Air Dynasty crashed at Balabesi in Kepilasgadhi Rural Municipality-2,  Khotang on Wednesday. 

The aircraft was en route to Khotang from Kathmandu and was carrying six people, including pilot Sabin Thapa, when the incident occurred.

According to locals, the chopper suddenly lost balance while landing and fell to the ground.

DSP Prakash Budhathoki, Chief of the District Police Office, Khotang, said that the details of the incident are yet to come. 

Among those on board, Kaji Bahadur Rai sustained injuries., DSP Budhathoki said. 

A helicopter has been dispatched from Kathmandu to carry out rescue operations, it has been learnt.