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The weather is likely to remain generally cloudy in the hilly and Himalayan regions, while partly cloudy conditions will prevail in the remaining areas. 

There is a possibility of moderate rain and snowfall with thunder and lightning at some places in the hilly and Himalayan regions of the country, and at one or two places in the Tarai of Koshi Province, according to the Weather Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.

Later tonight, generally cloudy conditions are expected in the hilly and Himalayan regions of Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces, as well as in the Himalayan regions of Bagmati and Koshi Provinces. 

Likewise, partly cloudy conditions are expected in the remaining hilly and Tarai regions. 

There is a possibility of moderate rain and snowfall with thunder and lightning at a few places in the hilly and Himalayan regions of Karnali, Sudurpaschim and Gandaki Provinces, and at one or two places in the Himalayan regions of Bagmati and Koshi Provinces, the Department stated in its '24 Hour Forecast' released at 8 am today. 

Traffic police have launched a strict monitoring and action against those driving vehicles without abiding by traffic rules in the Kathmandu Valley.

The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office launched a special campaign after drawing the conclusion that consumption of alcohol, drugs and violation of traffic rules were major reasons behind increasing numbers of road accidents in recent periods. 

Traffic police carry out checks in the early morning targeting public vehicle drivers while riders of two-wheelers during the day and evening. 

Chief of the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, Senior Superintendent of Police Nabaraj Adhikari shared that the campaign was launched, keeping the passengers' safety in priority and lessening road accidents. 

Dozens of drivers have faced action for they were found driving vehicles, consuming alcohol and drugs. 

Meanwhile, the traffic police made a preparation to recommend to the concerned bodies to scrap the license of those driving vehicles under influence of alcohol and drugs that keep passengers' life at risk. 

SSP Adhikari shared that a trend of driving vehicles carelessly is not acceptable, adding stern action should be taken against such drivers as fine is not enough for them. Even a process would be forwarded to revoke the license if needed.

Traffic Police Spokesperson Naresh Raj Subedi mentioned that such a campaign would be continued in different places in coming days, and the drivers would be requested for safe travel. 

A total of 12 drivers operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol have faced action in the course of surprise checking carried out at different places in Kathmandu Valley this morning. 

Subedi added that action was taken against 12 drivers—two each of public vehicles and mini-truck, one each of school bus, micro bus, tempo (three-wheeler), tourist van, and three of private cars.  

The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office has urged passengers to inform the nearby police office or call a hotline number of the traffic control room if drivers show suspicious activities.

The hilly and mountainous regions of the Sudurpaschim Province and other parts of the country are generally cloudy at present. 

Likewise, light rain is taking place in some hilly parts of Gandaki, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces and at one or two places of Lumbini, Bagmati and Koshi Provinces.  

The weather will remain generally cloudy in the mountainous and hilly regions and mainly fair in the rest of the country today, the Weather Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology stated.  

There is a possibility of moderate rain and snowfall with thunder and lightning as well as hail and snowstorm in some places in the hilly and mountainous regions of the country.

Later tonight, the weather will be generally cloudy in the mountainous regions of the country, partly cloudy in the hilly regions and mainly fair in the Tarai region. 

There is a possibility of light rain and snowfall with thunder and lightning at a few places in the mountainous areas of Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali Provinces and at one or two places in the mountainous areas of Bagmati, Lumbini and Sudurpaschim Provinces. 

Eighteen people visiting the hospitals in Chitwan district for treatment of different diseases were diagnosed with leprosy in the current fiscal year. 

The District Public Office stated that the highest number of confirmed leprosy patients were from the Bharatpur Metropolitan City. 

TB/Leprosy Officer at the Office, Jayaram Duwadi, said that the Office recorded 13 cases from the Bharatpur Metropolitan City, four from Kalika Municipality and one from Madi Municipality in Chitwan. Of the 18 cases, 10 are men and eight women.

The Office recorded 43 leprosy cases including 26 men in the district in the last fiscal year. 

Leprosy is a curable disease unlike in the past. Delay in treatment or in the absence of treatment, it may cause significant disfigurement, causing damage to skin, nerves, limbs and eyes, Duwadi said.

Delayed awareness about the disease exists in Nepal as its noticeable symptom--patches on the skin--becomes visible lately as it grows very slowly and this is the reason behind most cases, patients reach the medical facilities very late for treatment when the disease has already affected limbs and other organs leading to the vulnerability of mutilation. 

The disease is caused by the bacteria named Mycobacterium leprae. Red or lesions on the skin and lack of sensation are signs of an early stage of leprosy.