Qatar grants amnesty to three Nepalis
Qatar has granted amnesty to three Nepali nationals on the occasion of Ramadan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Friday.
Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri said the amnesty was granted by the Emir of Qatar as part of the country’s customary practice during the holy month.
The Government of Nepal has expressed gratitude to Qatar for the gesture. Officials stated that the move reflects the long-standing and strong diplomatic ties between the two countries and is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations.
493 dead, 38 missing in disaster incidents nationwide
A total of 493 people have died and 38 remain missing in various disaster-related incidents across the country between Baisakh 1, 2082 and Chaitra 27, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
39 deaths and 27 missing in 329 flood incidents, injuring 14 people and affecting 3,308. Landslides claimed 76 lives with five missing in 624 incidents, leaving 92 injured and 1,566 affected.
Fire incidents were the most frequent with 3,720 cases resulting in 105 deaths, 571 injuries, and 4,260 affected. Snakebites also caused significant casualties, killing 101 people and injuring 529 in 623 incidents.
Lightning strikes killed 48 and injured 312 people, while heavy rainfall incidents left seven dead and 21 injured. Animal attacks claimed 57 lives, with one person missing and 251 injured.
Windstorms killed 13 people and affected 984 families, while avalanches caused six deaths and five missing. Other incidents, including forest fires, hailstorms, air crashes, boat capsizing, and earthquakes, also resulted in casualties and displacement.
Authorities reported no impact from cold waves this year, while 155 families were affected by epidemics, according to official data.
Petro products prices up, effective from Thursday midnight
The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has again increased the prices of petroleum products.
The state-owned corporation has hiked the petro prices citing fluctuations in crude oil prices in the international market.
The NOC has increased the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas, effective from Thursday midnight.
The NOC board of directors has raised petrol price by Rs 17 per liter and diesel and kerosene by Rs 25 per liter each.
Likewise, the price of cooking LPG has been increased by Rs 100 per cylinder.
According to the corporation, domestic aviation fuel has been upped by Rs 6 per liter.
With the revised rates in place, petrol now has reached Rs 219 per liter in the Kathmandu Valley. Similarly, diesel and kerosene are priced at Rs 207 per liter.
The price of a cooking LPG cylinder has reached Rs 2,010.
Likewise, domestic aviation fuel has been fixed at Rs 257 per liter.
The government claims that despite offering 50 percent exemption on customs duties and infrastructure development taxes, the losses did not reduce, necessitating the price hike.
The NOC claims it will fortnightly incur a loss of approximately Rs 7.81 billion despite today's price increase.
Biska Jatra begins in Bhaktapur
Biska, the cultural and historical festival, which is exclusively observed in Bhaktapur, formally began today.
Devotees have flocked to Taumadhi to pay homage to the deity Bhairav since the morning marking the commencement of the festival.
After the worship to Bhairav concludes, the chariot procession of the Bhairav will begin, it is said.
The Biska festival commenced with the towing of the Chariot of Bhairav after performing all the associated customary rituals.
The idols of Bhairav and Betal are installed in the chariot along with the sword and flag brought from Hanumandhoka in Kathmandu.
The chariot is pulled in a procession from local Taumadhi to Gahiti.
The festival is observed in a grand way for eight nights and nine days with the celebrations of various rituals including the Sindur Jatra and the tongue-piercing ceremony.
