Rain/snowfall likely in Himalayan and hilly regions; strong winds in Tarai
At present there is partial influence of the westerly and local winds in the country.
Due to the influence, the Himalayan regions of Gandaki, Karnali and Sudurpashchim Provinces are generally cloudy, while other areas are partly cloudy, the Weather Forecasting Division stated.
This afternoon the Himalayan areas of all provinces as well as the hilly areas of Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpashchim Provinces will be mainly cloudy, while other places will be partly cloudy.
There is a possibility of light rain or snowfall with thunder and lightning in some parts of the Himalayan areas of Gandaki and Karnali Provinces and in one or two locations in the hilly and Himalayan regions of other provinces.
Additionally, there is a possibility of strong winds in some parts of the Tarai.
Similarly, tonight, the hilly and Himalayan regions of Gandaki, Karnali and Sudurpashchim Provinces are expected to be generally cloudy, with other areas partly cloudy, the weather forecast bulletin noted.
Light rain or snowfall with thunder and lightning may occur in one or two locations in the Himalayan areas of Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali Provinces.
Moreover, moderate rain or snowfall with thunder and lightning may occur in some hilly and Himalayan areas of Gandaki, Karnali and Sudurpashchim Provinces, and in other provinces' hilly and Himalayan areas.
Dumre-Besisahar road to remain closed eight hours daily
The Kukurdi-Turture stretch along the Dumre-Besisahar road section in Bhanu Municipality, Tanahun is to be closed for eight hours daily.
The road stretch is to be halted eight hours daily from April 4-13 for widening the road from Kukurdi to Turṭure in Bhanu Municipality–3.
According to the District Administration Office, the road section will be closed from 12 noon to 4 pm and from 5 pm to 9 pm.
The office has urged everyone concerned to use alternative roads for travel and transportation.
India and Nepal sign MoUs for seven new development projects
The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu in collaboration with the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration of the Government of Nepal on Thursday signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to implement seven High-Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) across Nepal.
The projects covering education, health and agriculture will be funded by the government of India at a total cost of Rs 473 million.
Since 2003, the government of India has undertaken 598 HICDPs in Nepal, including the seven projects for which MoUs were signed today, reads a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.
Out of these, 506 projects have been completed in the areas of health, education, agriculture, drinking water, connectivity, sanitation and creation of public utilities.
These projects are spread across all seven provinces of Nepal.
The remaining projects are at various stages of implementation, according to the statement.
As close neighbours, India and Nepal are engaged in wide-ranging and multi-sectoral cooperation.
The implementation of HICDPs reflects the continued support of the Government of India in strengthening the efforts of the Government of Nepal in promoting growth and development, apart from augmenting infrastructure in priority sectors.
Former Press Council Chair Basnet slams govt’s decision to ban advertisements on media
Press Council former Chairman Bal Krishna Basnet has criticized the government's decision to withhold advertisements on media, arguing that the move is a direct attack on press freedom and democratic norms.
Issuing a statement on Thursday, he described the decision as a financial blockade that could severely hamper the country’s media sector.
He said that the Prime Minister may have been misbriefed or influenced by a vested interest group, saying that the Prime Minister's Office should not have issued such a directive.
This decision will erode the rights to publication and information guaranteed by democracy and the Constitution.
“The information and advertisements that the federal, provincial, and local levels can provide to newspapers, radio, TV, and online portals should be made transparent and systematic,” he stated, stressing that stronger steps should be taken to stop corruption within the advertising sector.
If this decision is implemented, nearly 800 newspapers and hundreds of community radio stations across the country could be forced to shut down, he warned.
He urged the government to immediately roll back the decision to safeguard the media's role in the country.
