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The Nepali Embassy in Colombo organized a program titled “Nepal Community Support, Health Check and Consular Service Camp - Maldives 2026” at KAMANA MAALAM, Ma. Seeraazeege, Male on Friday, aimed at addressing consular, labour, and medical issues faced by Nepali nationals working in the Maldives. 

The day-long program commenced with the playing of the National Anthem of Nepal. 

Delivering the welcome remarks, Vijay Kumar Raut, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Nepal in Colombo, Sri Lanka, underlined the role and services provided by the Embassy for Nepali nationals in the Maldives. 

He highlighted the significant contributions of the Nepali community to the Maldivian medical, economic, construction, and tourism sectors. 

The keynote remark was delivered by His Excellency Abdullah Jihad, Former Vice President of the Maldives. 

He lauded the honesty and hard work of the Nepali community and addressed challenges regarding remittance, suggesting solutions for transferring income to Nepal. 

Raut delivered a detailed presentation on consular services and labour challenges, focusing on wage disputes, contract, demand attestations, exploitation, passport confiscation, and mobility restrictions. 

Discussions included Labor and Consular Issues such as Exploitation, recruitment fraud, and safety, Healthcare as Mental health and medical assistance and Community Support for Gender-specific vulnerabilities, particularly for women. 

The discussions featured insights from Ashiya Mohamed (President) and Saroj Sapkota (Secretary General) of the Nepal Helpline, along with medical professionals Dr Kiran Niraula (Neurosurgeon, ADK Hospital), Dr Rashmi Bhattarai(Pathologist), Bipin Dahal, Lila Thapa Magar, Bishal Tamang, and Sarita RanaMagar from different associations. 

Medical support for the camp was provided by Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangha, Dr Naresh Pradhan from Eyecare (Sri Lanka), and Santosh Upadhayay (COO, Eyecare Pvt. Ltd). Dinesh Pandey (Senior Optometrist) and Pushparaj Bista(Ophthalmic Assistant) conducted health check-ups,distributing free eyedrops and glasses to needy individuals.

More than 150 Nepali nationals participated in the camp. 

Three youths from the same village in Khotang district, Nepal died and another one is still missing after an explosion at an illegally-run coal mine in Meghalaya, India. 

It is said that a Nepali from Khotang district is missing and two others were critically injured in the coal mine blast. 

Purniram Khapangi Magar (27), Surendra Khapangi Magar (24) and Nar Bahadur Khapangi Magar (35) of Bhanjyang Village at Barapokhari Rural Municipality-1 in the district were killed in the explosion on February 5.

Ratna Rai (50) of Jorkafal Village, Halesi Tuwachung Municipality-5 was missing in the explosion, Nepali workers from Meghalaya have informed the local authorities and victims' families in Khotang.      

According to Indian media outlets, the incident occurred in the remote Mynsyngat Village in the Thangsko area, around 22 kilometers from Khliehriat, the district headquarters of East Jaintia Hills.

The burnt bodies of the Nepali workers are not recognizable, it is shared. 

Ranta, who is missing in the blast, had gone to India for a job some six months ago.

As per information shared by locals and victims' families, Karna Bahadur Khapangi Magar (46) and Bam Bahadur Khapangi Magar (40) of Barapokhari Rural Municipality-1 in Khotang and Lalit Lungeli Magar of Saune Village in Udayapur district are critically injured in the blast.

They are receiving treatment in a local health facility in Meghalaya, according to a Nepali fellow worker in Meghalaya from Barapokhari, Tara Bal Magar.  

The victims' families have faced difficulties bringing the bodies back home, it is stated.

The air quality of Kathmandu Valley worsened on Sunday and reached an 'unhealthy level'. 

As per the Air Quality Index (AQI), air pollution level of the Kathmandu Valley has reached an unhealthy level with 175 this afternoon.  

Kathmandu ranked the seventh among the most polluted cities in the world today. Cairo has been listed in the top rank of the most polluted cities during the period with 273 AQI. 

Director General of the Department of Environment, Gyan Raj Subedi, shared that dry weather, operation of factories and industries and speedy development construction are reasons behind the air pollution, adding there is possibility of more air pollution until rainfall occurs.

Bodies concerned have been suggested to lay emphasis on environment-friendly development, he underlined. 

Disaster Management Expert Dr Dharma Raj Upreti said air quality from 0-50 AQI (green sign) is  categorized good while 51-100 AQI (yellow signal) moderate, 101-150 AQI unhealthy for sensitive group, 151-200 AQI unhealthy, 201-300 AQI very unhealthy and above 301 AQI hazardous. 

As per the Air Quality Management Procedure, 2076 for Kathmandu Valley, the government has made provision to consider a situation where AQI exceeds above 300 as a disaster.

The government has started a nationwide ‘Human Papillomavirus’ (HPV) vaccination campaign for girls studying in grade six from today.

According to the Child Health and Vaccination Branch of the Department of Health Services, vaccination has begun for girls studying in grade six and out-of-school girls aged 10 years and above across the country from today. 

The campaign will run until February 27.

During the campaign, girls currently studying in grades seven to 10 and out-of-school girls aged 11 to 14 who missed out on last year’s HPV vaccination campaign will also be vaccinated.

Girls studying in grade 6 will be vaccinated at schools and other girls at vaccination centers.

Chief of the Branch, Dr Abhiyan Gautam urged everyone to get vaccinated as the vaccine is 100% effective. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women in Nepal, and it is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women.

Last year, around 1.7 million girls in grades six to 10 and out-of-school age groups of 10 to 14 across the country were vaccinated. 

According to the branch, about 350,000 children will be vaccinated against cervical cancer during the 20-day campaign.