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The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has installed 'on-demand pedestrian crossings' (Pelican system) at 36 locations to prioritize pedestrian safety.

This system was first implemented in Babarmahal and has since been expanded to other locations in the current fiscal year.

According to Jagatman Shrestha, traffic management advisor at the KMC Office, although the system has been set up at 36 locations, it is currently operational at 13.

Technical work is going on to make the system functional at the remaining sites.

Areas such as Thamel, Maharajgunj, Naxal, Baluwatar, Gaushala, Exhibition Road, Bagbazar, and Tahachal are among those featuring this system.

For the current fiscal year, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City has allocated a budget of Rs 20 million for the implementation of this project.

The Pelican system works by displaying a green signal for pedestrians at the zebra crossing when they activate the button.

The green light lasts for 30 seconds, while the vehicles are shown a red signal.

After 30 seconds, the system can be activated again after a two-minute waiting period.

This system primarily targets pedestrian safety in areas near schools and hospitals, it is said. 

The World Health Organization South-East Asia Region has thanked Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population for contributing Rs 1.54m, approximately $11,000, to the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF), a unique funding mechanism to support member countries in the region to prepare for and respond to health emergencies.

“WHO thanks Nepal for its contribution to SEARHEF. Nepal has championed the regional health emergency fund at various forums. The country has been demonstrating great leadership in building capabilities and responding to emergencies, with many lessons for the region and the world to emulate,” said Saima Wazed, WHO regional director for South-East Asia, in a letter addressed to Health Minister Pradip Paudel.

Nepal’s contribution is a testament to its support, ownership and commitment to SEARHEF, which is transparently managed by WHO for member countries of the region.

Established in 2007 as part of lessons learnt after the Indian Ocean tsunami that hit multiple countries in the region, SEARHEF was set up with the aim to fund immediate health sector response during health emergencies, which is critical to save lives.

Till date, the SEARHEF has supported 49 emergencies across 10 countries with disbursements over $8m.

The scope of SEARHEF was expanded in 2016 to include emergency preparedness, with three countries using this funding mechanism to strengthen their health emergency operations centres and rapid response teams.

Prone to natural disasters, Nepal has utilized SEARHEF for responding to Koshi floods in 2008 and the earthquakes in 2015 and 2023. The funds were used for coordinating health response to provide life-saving services and minimize disabilities through deployment of medical teams; prevent and respond to impending outbreaks; and support continuity of essential health services through establishment of temporary healthcare facilities.

Recognizing the critical role played by SEARHEF in public health response in the region, at the annual governing body meeting of WHO South-East Asia Region in October 2024, the member countries agreed to increase the corpus of the fund from $1m to $3m.

Nepal is the fourth country, after Thailand, India and Timor-Leste, to contribute to the enhanced corpus of SEARHEF. The WHO regional director said the health organization stands committed to supporting member countries to build resilient health systems that are well prepared for responding to public health emergencies of any magnitude.

Two of the 11 workers who sustained burn injuries in a fire at an eatery in Kamalpokhari last Thursday have succumbed to their injuries.

The fire had started due to the explosion of a cooking gas cylinder.

Spokesperson at the District Police Range Kathmandu, Apil Raj Bohara, said the deceased are 18-year-old Rabin Rai of Hetauda and 25-year-old Bhim Bahadur Ghale of Udayapur.

Rai died last night while Ghale breathed his last this morning at the Kirtipur-based Burn Hospital.

The remaining injured ones are being treated at the same hospital. 

The 19th edition of the food festival organized by the Restaurant and Bar Association Nepal (REBAN), Sauraha, Chitwan has kicked off in Chitwan today.

The annual event aims to promote the tourism industry in Chitwan, according to REBAN Chitwan Chair Dhruba Giri. It has been organised in the north to the Sauraha-based Tourist Bus Park.

Bagmati Province Minister for Culture and Tourism, Bimal Thakuri, is scheduled to inaugurate the festival this evening. The fund to be collected from entry fee will be spent for the beautification of a touristic route in Sauraha, it is said.

The festival is expected to boost tourist arrivals by 40 percent during the festival period. It will run till February 14, according to festival coordinator Shambhu Prasad Mali. The festival will feature a cultural exhibition, exhibitions of local culinary, and the organisation of the first REBAN women soccer competition, inter-school dance competition and badminton competition as well.