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At least 11 persons were injured after a cooking gas cylinder exploded at a momo shop in Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu on Thursday.

Among the injured, two persons are in critical condition, according to District Police Range, Kathmandu.

Superintendent of Police, Apil Bohara, informed that those injured in the explosion have been taken to the Burn Hospital, Kirtipur for treatment.

The Duke of Edinburgh met a diverse range of participants undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award in Kathmandu today.

The Award, established in Nepal for ten years, has benefited over 6,000 young people through building lifelong skills and experiences, and is implemented by a team of over 500 volunteers.

At the British Embassy, The Duke presented 19 young Nepalis with the Gold Award (and two were awarded in absentia) – the highest achievement in the Award program and a culmination of hard work and self-development by the young people, reads a statement issued by the British Embassy in Kathmandu.

Separately The Duke met young participants from a range of backgrounds – including young people from government schools, the Scouts, SOS Children’s Villages, and those from underprivileged communities who benefit from the program funding from the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation, of which the Duke is Chair of Trustees.

 At the award ceremony His Royal Highness said, “To achieve your Gold Award takes courage, commitment and tenacity – you should be exceptionally proud of what you’ve achieved.”

 Finally, at an evening reception hosted by His Majesty’s Ambassador Rob Fenn, the Duke and Duchess met over 200 people who represent the UK-Nepal friendship.

With a particular focus on young people and the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, the Duke and Duchess interacted with a range of young people, including: those who are participating in the Awards, young entrepreneurs, women’s rights activists, tech experts, recipients of UK honors and Nepalis and Brits who represent a new generation of friendship between our countries.

At the reception, Sue Layden – whose father was the first director of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in the UK and led the first successful Everest expedition - announced a new initiative that will support 10 young people to do their Award expedition in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area where they will work with local schools and on a red panda conservation project.

Bhojpur, a district in the eastern hilly region of Nepal, is famous for khukuri. The Bhojpure khukuri, an essential weapon, made in the district is known across the country and abroad.

However, the khukuri industry is facing existential challenges in recent times owing to lack of artisans and raw materials.

The shortage of skilled persons to prepare khukuri is likely to grow more because of the exodus of youths. The youths who used to get skills from the earlier generation are opting for foreign jobs and study at present, said Ghanashyam Bishwokarma, one who runs a furnace to prepare khukuri.

"The number of furnaces used to heat and beat metal to prepare the popular weapon, khukuri, has radically declined in the district," he added. 

The areas producing the weapon are- Kot, Dalgaon, Gogane, Khawa, Khairang, Taksar, Bokhim, Danwa, Timma, Dingla, Deurali, and Jarayotar in the district.

The entrepreneurs complained that the raw materials like coal and sal wood were in short supply while the skilled workforce was also in severe decline, thereby creating the existential crisis of Bhujpure khukuri.

Proprietor of Ranjita Khukuri Industry, Dinesh Gajmer, said, "It is difficult to find artisans, resulting in a slump in khukuri production. However, there is growing demand for the weapon. The workforce available at present are paid much for continuing the profession."

The Bhojpure khukuri is not only used as a weapon but as a gift and decoration.

Varieties of khukuris are produced in the district such as sirupate, banspate, chitlange, kothimuda, panwala, dharkhole and budune.

Hira Shrestha, who runs Urmila Furnace Industry, reminded, "When then King Mahendra visited Bhojpur in 2027BS, a local from Bokhim, Singha Bahadur BK, had gifted him a khukuri, which helped in huge publicity of this product."

In a local market, a khukuri is sold from Rs 800 to 1,800. The rural areas largely use budune and banspate types of khukuri. In addition to local use, this weapon is sold to Dharan, Udayapur, Sankhuwasabha and Kathmandu city as well.

The entrepreneurs have been demanding the governments for assisting in preservation of the khukuri industry.

Construction of the Lower Solukhola Hydropower Project has neared completion. The hydropower project of 82-megawatt capacity achieved 95 percent physical progress till date.

It is being built at Tingla in the district.

The construction of a power house, tunnel way and installation of turbine and generator, among others have been completed in the project promoted by Lower Solu Hydropower Company. Company manager Dharmendra Gotame said the breakthrough of the penstock tunnel would be made in near future.

"We are planning to launch the commercial production of hydropower coming July," he shared.

Even the transmission line has seen 80 percent progress. The project was launched since September 2016 with the investment of Rs 16 billion provided as loan by the European Bank (International Funding Agency) including FMO. The project's completion has been aimed before September 2025.

It is a reservoir-based project. The reservoir has been set up at Salme area of Solukhumbu. The water is supplied through a tunnel way to the powerhouse set up at Bhadaure of Tingla, located some 6-km away from Salme.

The estimated cost of the project would increase because of geographical difficulty and a long tunnel way.

There are 700 workers in the project. Even the locals have got jobs.

With the completion of the project, the national transmission line would receive 23MW power in winter, while 82WM power in the rainy season.