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The Meteorological Forecasting Division has forecasted light to moderate rain in most of the places of the country on Sunday.

The Division said that there are chances of heavy to very heavy rain with thunder and lightning in a few places of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudur Pashchim Provinces and in one or two places of Madesh Province.

Likewise, the Division has predicted generally to be mostly cloudy throughout the country with the potentiality of the occurrence of light to moderate rain at most of the places of the country tonight.

Heavy to very heavy rain with thunder and lightning has been forecast in some places of Karnali and Sudur Pashchim Provinces, at a few places of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki  and Lumbini Provinces. 

It has predicted extremely heavy rainfall in one or two places of Sudur Pashchim Province.

The Kathmandu Valley has been receiving rainfall since this morning.

The Division said that presently the axis of monsoon trough is located towards north (near Nepal) from the average position while Nepal experiences influences of a low-pressure area surrounding the Uttar Pradesh and Bihar states of India.

Stakeholders are concerned about various factors posing a threat to the Kaligandaki river civilization. The river that originates in Mustang traverses through Myagdi, Baglung, Parbat, Syangja, and Gulmi and so on.

The river is additionally valued for being the source of Shaligram, a dark or brown dark stone which is believed to have a religious significance.

Speaking at a program at Kushma Bazar of Pabat on Saturday, the participants said the river had its own distinct identity and features, remaining intricately linked with human civilization.

They demanded prompt actions to stop an illegal quarrying based in the river. 

The participants were univocal on making proper utilization of its natural resources, without hampering its environmental and ecological integrity.

Kamal Nayanacharya of Muktinath Temple who is long associated with the conservation and promotion endeavors of the river expressed his concern over an increasing threat to its essence and the Shaligram stone.  

He said a religious event aiming to draw the attention of national and international community for the urgency to conserve the river has been scheduled to take place from February 21 to March 6 next year in Sarbasiddhidham Panchakot of Baglung.

Prof Dr Jagannath Regmi urged the state to be attentive for the protection of river waters which is needed for sustaining all aspects of human life.  "The river holds an additional significance over its religious and touristic aspects and it should be well conserved," he asserted.

Former minister Bikash Lamsal said the state's action was needed to preserve the river's integrity, primarily from Muktinath to Devghat while Gandaki Province Assembly member Bhakta Kunwar pledged to take initiation to conserve the river, underlining the need of also protecting the lives depending on the river.

Illegal extractions taking place along the Parbat and Myagdi sections of the river have threatened the ecological aspect of the river, it is said.

Kushma municipality chief administrative officer Chandika Poudel said the role of the three-tier government was vital to keep the river and other aspects associated with it unharmed.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has said that no flights meant for rescue operations have been prohibited in remote areas during the 'operation hours'.

The recent decision of the CAAN mandates airlines to conduct flights to remote areas only within the fixed time. 

The decision is said to be for mitigating the risk of air incidents during the monsoon season and enhancing flight safety. However, the CAAN has been criticized for the move.

CAAN spokesperson Jagannath Niraula said that the restriction on flight beyond the operating hours is solely applicable during the monsoon period and is not targeted at rescue flights.

The prohibition is just for commercial flights in remote areas. 

The CAAN said that typically the 'operation hours' for airports based in remote areas begin at 6:30 am and end at 12:30 in the afternoon.

Karnali River has started eroding the lands near the Tikapur Park at Tikapur-5 of Kailali district. With this, the nearby settlement is at an alarming risk of facing possible consequences from the swollen river.

If the river happens to demolish the river embankment near the park area, ward 5,6, 7,8 and 9 will be submerged under water.

On Sunday, Sudurpaschim Province Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah, Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development Prakash Bahadur Deuba and Minister for Internal Affairs and Law Shiba Raj Bhatta visited the area affected by the erosion.

The Chief Minister promised to do his best from the individual and official-level to mitigate the risk of inundation and flood from the river.

A large number of people are likely to be affected, requiring a prompt rescue and paddy crops covering a significant area are likely to be damaged if the river enters the settlement. 

Bearing in mind the growing risk of flood, the Disaster Management Committee, Tikapur Municipality has agreed to build a bio-embankment with the help of locals and the Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigation Project, said project chief Kedar Kumar Shrestha.

It has been reported that lately the river has started changing its regular course. "Haphazard quarrying by the local levels has made the situation worse," Shrestha added. 

The Meteorological Forecasting Division earlier in its bulletin predicted heavy rains in the region starting from Saturday.

Amidst this situation, the local government has implemented a system to alert the locals to possible consequences through a siren and a mobile text. 

People have been urged to keep their documents safe, and ensure a safe stay for expectant mothers, senior citizens and the people with disabilities, Municipality's Disaster Management Section chief Nirmala Chaudhary said.

The incessant rains taking place here since August 7 has already affected 341 households at Tikapur 6 and 7.