NOC hikes prices of petroleum products
The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has hiked the prices of petroleum products effective from midnight today.
According to the NOC, the price of petrol was hiked by Rs 15 per liter, while the prices of diesel and kerosene were increased by Rs 10 per liter.
Consumers in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Dipayal will now pay Rs 172 per liter for petrol and Rs 152 per liter for diesel and kerosene.
In a statement issued this evening, the NOC mentioned that the decision for the rate adjustment was made as the fuel prices were hiked in the new supplies to the NOC from the Indian Oil Corporation.
The NOC has stated that the unusual price hike of petroleum products in the international market led to this situation, while urging the consumers for their continued support.
Nepalis in Kuwait urged to return home via Saudi Arabia
The Nepali Embassy in Kuwait has urged Nepali nationals residing in Kuwait with a valid resident permit and who wish to return home to travel via Saudi Arabia.
Issuing a notice on Sunday in view of the evolving situation in the Middle East, the Embassy requested Nepalis residing in Kuwait to submit their Saudi Visa application online if they intend to travel to Nepal via airports in Saudi Arabia.
The Embassy also notified that Nepalis bearing a valid resident permit (Kuwait's Civil ID) are allowed to enter Saudi Arabia via land route for their travel to Nepal once they obtain a visa.
Cloudy skies and rainfall likely across Nepal for several days
Precipitation has started this morning in the western region of the country.
The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said rainfall began in the western parts of the country due to the influence of the Westerly low-pressure system, which is gradually moving eastwards.
Department's Information Officer Dinakar Kayastha said that it has been raining since early this morning in areas including Dadeldhura, Doti, Achham, Bajura, Bajhang, Gulmi, Kaski, Tanahu, Palpa, Arghakhanchi, and Manang in western Nepal, and that the rainfall-inducing system has now reached Chitwan.
The Meteorological Forecasting Division has also stated that the rainfall, which started from the west, is moving towards the east.
Kayastha stated that Gulmi received 17 millimeters of rain while Tanahun 11 millimeters in the last one hour, and it is still raining.
Currently, Nepal is under the influence of the Westerly low-pressure system, information officer Kayastha said, adding that at present, Madhes, Bagmati, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces have generally cloudy weather, while Koshi and Gandaki Provinces are partly cloudy.
The Department stated that fog has occurred in some areas of the Tarai and the Kathmandu Valley.
The weather bulletin issued today by the Department stated that generally cloudy conditions are expected in the hilly and mountainous areas of Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali, Sudurpaschim Provinces as well as in Koshi and Bagmati provinces, while partly cloudy conditions are expected in the remaining areas.
Information officer Kayastha said that in some mountainous areas of the country, there is a possibility of moderate rainfall with thunder and lightning, along with snowfall in a few areas.
He added that there is a possibility of moderate rain with thunder and lightning in some hilly areas of Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Prior, in a few hilly areas of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces, as well as in one or two places in the Tarai region of Lumbini and Sudurpaschim Provinces.
According to him, cloudy conditions will continue for a few more days.
Seven Indian nationals killed in Gorkha microbus accident
Seven Indian nationals died and seven others were injured when an electric microbus met with an accident at Kantar in Shahid Lakhan Rural Municipality-3, Gorkha on Saturday.
According to District Police Office Chief Bharat Bahadur BK, among them, Muthu Kumar (58), Anamalik (58), Meenakshi (59), Sivagami (53), Vijayal (57), Meena (58), and Tamilarsi (60), died on the spot.
The incident occurred when the microbus carrying 16 devotees returning from Manakamana fell some 200 meters down the road.
The injured have been identified as 62-year-old Soranam, 65-year-old Mangada Jalam, 75-year-old Subhadra, 65-year-old Mayal, 73-year-old Saroja, 75-year-old Bhagyalakshmi and 34-year-old Meenakshi.
They are undergoing treatment at the Old Medical College in Chitwan
The driver of the microbus, 46-year-old Pushpa Malla Thakuri of Besisahar Municipality-1, Lamjung is safe while his assistant 29-year-old Santosh Gurung of Besisahar Municipality-3, is injured.
Police said that further investigation into the incident is underway.
