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The Maghe Sankranti fair commenced at the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and Trishuli rivers in Devghat with the hoisting of a bamboo ritualistic pole. 

A famous pilgrimage site, Devghat is also the tri-junction of Chitwan, Tanahun, and Nawalparasi.

On the occasion, there was a large presence of locals including Atmananda Giri, the head of Beni's Galeshwar Ashram; Gyananand Saraswati, the president of the Nepal Saint Society; Ramanand Giri, the head of Mahesh Sannyas Ashram; Ishwari Raj Laudari, the chairman of the Devghat Area Development Committee; the Committee executive director Sadan Baral; and members of the committee.

Chief District Officer of Chitwan District, Ganesh Aryal, said that all arrangements for the security of the Maghe Sankranti fair have been completed.

It is estimated that 300, 000 devotees will attend the fair this year.

A big religious fair takes place at the confluence of the two rivers at Devghat every year on the occasion of Maghe Sankranti festival. 

A large number of devotees visit the place to take ablution bath at the river confluence and to perform associated rituals.

An SBI Bank branch at Hayutar Bastipur in Ghyanglekh Rural Municipality-2, Sindhuli was robbed on Tuesday night.

SP Lal Dhwaj Subedi, Chief at the District Police Office, Sindhuli said  that an armed group looted more than Rs 31 million from the bank.

Police said that a group of around six persons entered the bank at around 8:30 pm on Tuesday, overpowered the security guards and employees and fled with Rs 31. 59 million in cash. 

According to SP Subedi, a police team was mobilized immediately after the incident and during the search operation, Rs 18.91 million was recovered from the nearby forest.

Police have impounded a Tata Sumo jeep (BAD 0398) allegedly used for robbery and arrested its driver Bhavat Singh Thapa for investigation. 

The robbers had taken the bank's security guard Rudra Bahadur Karki under control at gunpoint and attacked him.

According to Karki, four robbers attacked him with khukuris and two with pistols.

Police rescued him immediately after the incident.

Police suspect that the robbers might have fled towards Kavre.

Further investigation into the incident is underway, said police. 

Mist and fog observed at some places over the Tarai region is likely to gradually improve by noon today. 

The weather is expected to remain partly cloudy over the high hilly and mountainous regions of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces, while it will be mainly fair in the rest of the country, according to the 8 am bulletin by the Meteorological Forecasting Division.

Later tonight, mist is likely to occur at some places over the Tarai region, while partly cloudy conditions are expected over the high hilly and mountainous regions of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces. The weather will remain mainly fair in the rest of the country.

Meanwhile, the meteorological analysis by the Division says that there is partial influence of westerly winds throughout the country.

Municipal Energy Plans (MEPs) of Varagung Muktichhetra and Gharapjhong Rural Municipalities in Mustang were formally handed over to the local governments on January 7.

The handover ceremonies were held at the Municipality offices where Dr Ranjan Prakash Shrestha, Senior Project Manager at the European Union Delegation to Nepal and Dr Frank Fecher, Program Manager at GIZ Nepal formally presented the MEPs to Rinzen Namgel Gurung, Chairperson of Varagung Muktichhetra Rural Municipality, and Mohan Singh Lalchan, Chairperson of Gharapjhong Rural Municipality.

Developed with technical support from the REEEP-GREEN project implemented by GIZ Nepal, the five-year MEPs aim to promote clean energy use, improve household wiring, encourage electric cooking, support energy-efficient tourism, and enhance productive energy use, particularly for women and marginalized groups.

Varagung Muktichhetra has estimated an implementation budget of Rs 147.3 million, while Gharapjhong has allocated Rs 218.9 million.

The plans will be integrated into the municipalities’ annual and long-term development strategies to strengthen local development and climate resilience.