Diversion of water from Melamchi to Kathmandu completely halted
In a move prompted by unmet demands, groups of vendors and committees representing Melamchi flood victims have halted the diversion of water from the Melamchi stream to Kathmandu.
Jagarnath Das, the Executive Director of the Melamchi Water Supply Development Board, said that local residents obstructed the water diversion at the source of the Melamchi Water Supply Project on Thursday.
He remarked, "The locals have blocked the source today, demanding the fulfillment of the agreement made last year with former Water Supply Minister Pradeep Yadav." Since the main supply was cut off, the diversion of Melamchi water to Kathmandu has been entirely halted since Thursday afternoon.
The locals have ceased the water supply, asserting that the demands of the flood and landslide victims from 2078 BS, along with other affected individuals, remain unaddressed. The Melamchi water supply, which had been interrupted in Mid-June due to the onset of rains, resumed on October 12.
Executive Director Das stated that discussions would be initiated with the protesting groups to seek a resolution for the water supply to Kathmandu. Additionally, four concerned committees from Sindhupalchok and Kavre had previously blocked the Melamchi Water Supply Office in Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu, a week ago.
Vitamin 'A', deworming tablets being administered to children today as well
The Nutrition Branch of the Department of Health Services has said that vitamin 'A' capsules and deworming tablets will be administered to children today also under the National Vitamin-A Program.
Lila Bikram Thapa, Head of Nutrition Branch, said that children aged six months to 59 months will be given vitamin 'A' and children aged one to five years will be given deworming medicine today as well.
The second phase of the vitamin 'A' program will be conducted on April 19 and 20.
Fifty-two thousand female health volunteers and 15,000 health workers have been deployed to implement this program.
The government has been administering vitamin 'A' capsules since 1993 to prevent the risk of malnutrition in children, and it has started regularly giving deworming medicine since 1999.
Weather to remain mainly fair today
Partly cloudy conditions are expected in the hilly regions of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces, while the weather will remain mainly fair in the rest of the country.
According to the Weather Forecasting Division, there is a possibility of light rain or snowfall at one or two places in the mountainous regions of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces.
The meteorological analysis by the Division shows that there is currently no significant effect of the weather system across the country.
Two tourists stranded at Chharka Bherol rescued
Two Nepali visitors, who were trapped in snow at Chharka Bherol along the Mustang-Dolpa border, were rescued by a helicopter this morning.
Manish GC of Parbat and Santosh Kunwar of Myagdi were rescued by an Air Dynasty helicopter in coordination with the Indrabaks Battalion of the Nepal Army.
Mustang's Chief District Officer, Bishnu Prasad Bhusal, confirmed that the two were caught in heavy snowfall and rescued this morning.
They had started their trip to Upper Mustang on October 26 and had reached Chharka via Sangta village. The rescue took place on the sixth day after they were trapped.
The trekkers lost their way in Chharka Bherol, and the local administration was alerted through a satellite phone by a local construction worker who had met them midway and later parted ways after reaching Chharka Bherol.
