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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.

The government has decided to extend the working hours of government offices to 9 am to 5 pm, excluding educational institutions. 

A cabinet meeting held on Sunday made the decision to this effect, government spokesperson and Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel said. 

The Cabinet has also decided to introduce a two-day weekend—Saturday and Sunday—effective from April 6.

Government spokesperson Pokharel said the decisions were taken amid disruptions in the petroleum supply.

More than seven thousand 'applications (apps)' and 'websites' (URLs) related to online betting have been shut down.

During the implementation of the government's decision related to governance reforms, the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), in coordination with the Internet service providers, blocked websites and apps.

According to NTA Deputy Director, Surya Prasad Lamichhane, internet service providers have been instructed to identify and shut down gambling-related apps and websites that are operating illegally. 

“So far, more than seven thousand such URLs and apps have been closed. In the past week, the NTA has received more than 50 complaints through various means such as telephone, email, and messages regarding online betting, all of which are being addressed and action has been taken,” he said..

Among the one hundred action points on governance reforms approved in the cabinet meeting on March 27, point number 42 is related to shutting down betting-related apps and websites within 24 hours.

In accordance with the same decision, NTA, in coordination with internet service providers, has immediately shut down all identified apps and websites operating online related to betting. 

According to Subsection (4) of Section 125 of the Criminal Code, 2074, no one shall engage in betting or cause others the same. Violating this will result in the confiscation of the stake amount, imprisonment for up to one year and a fine of up to Rs 10,000.