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Twenty species of birds were found during a survey of water birds conducted in Banke a few days ago.

Such species of birds were found along the Sikta area from Kusum of Rapti river and different lakes and rivers in the district.

Ruddy Shelduck, Siberian birds and birds migrating from Russia were recorded during the census, said Ornithologist Ram Shahi.

He added that garbage piled at ponds and lakes has shrunk the habitat of the aquatic birds. "The habitats of birds are also at risk due to noise pollution at picnic sites located near ponds and lakes," Shahi added.

Aquatic birds including Gadwall, Lesser Whistling Duck were also found in the course of the survey. A total of 276 birds were recorded in the survey conducted by Banke National Park and Buffer Zone community.

Information Officer at the Banke National Park, Mandeep Pangeni, shared that a team comprising Ornithologist Joshi had conducted the two-day survey and different species of birds were found at surrounding areas of Rapti river, local forest, Kanti and Sutaiya ponds and their habitats were found safe.

He expressed the belief that surveys conducted every year would help for the management of habitats of the birds.

The death toll in the Jalgaon train accident has gone up to 13 with the recovery of a headless body along the railway tracks, police said on Thursday.

Some passengers of the Mumbai-bound Pushpak Express, who got off the train after an alarm chain-pulling incident, were run over by the Karnataka Express heading from Bengaluru to Delhi on the adjacent tracks in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district on Wednesday evening.

"Of the 13, we have identified eight bodies so far, including two from their Aadhaar cards,"Special Inspector General of Police Dattatraya Karale told PTI.

The eight identified deceased include four hailing from Nepal, Jalgaon district information officer Yuvraj Patil told PTI.

As per the list provided by authorities, the four Nepalis have been identified as Kamala Navin Bhandari (43) (who lived at Colaba in Mumbai), Javakala Bhate (60) (who resided at Bhiwandi in Thane), Lachchiram Khataru Pasi (40) and Imtiyaz Ali (11).

Out of the 15 persons injured in the incident, 10 were currently undergoing treatment - nine at the Pachora civil hospital and one at a medical facility in Jalgaon city- while the others who suffered minor injuries were discharged, he said.

Meanwhile, the Lucknow-Mumbai Pushpak Express reached the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), its final destination in the Maharashtra capital, at around 1.20 am on Thursday, a railway spokesperson said.

The Central Railway's general manager and other senior officials also reached the accident spot at night and inspected the site, he said.

They also visited the hospitals where the injured persons were taken for treatment.

The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday evening when passengers onboard the Pushpak Express, fearing a blaze, hastily jumped onto the adjacent tracks and were run over by the oncoming Karnataka Express, officials earlier said.

The accident took place between Maheji and Pardhade stations near Pachora town in north Maharashtra's Jalgaon district, when the Pushpak Express halted after someone pulled the chain at around 4. 45 pm on Wednesday, Central Railway officials said.

Dilip Kumar, Executive Director, Information and Publicity, Railway Board, however, denied that any spark or fire inside the coach caused passengers to pull the alarm.

In a video message from Davos in Switzerland, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said, "Some passengers in the train mistakenly assumed that smoke was coming out of the train and they jumped. Unfortunately, they were run over by another train."

The CM announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of the passengers who died in the tragedy.

The Railway Board separately announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1.5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased, Rs 50,000 for grievous wounds and Rs 5,000 for simple injuries. PTI 

"In Search of Shambhala" an art exhibition by celebrated Russian artist Natalia Zaitseva-Borisova is underway at Russian House in Kathmandu.

The event was inaugurated by Alina Novikova, spouse of the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Nepal, who lit the traditional panas to commence the exhibition.

Natalia Zaitseva-Borisova is an internationally acclaimed artist renowned for her works in the orientalist style, drawing inspiration from legendary Russian painters Vasily Vereshchagin and Nicholas Roerich.

With over 35 personal exhibitions worldwide, her work is praised for its ability to capture the essence of cultural heritage and natural beauty.

The exhibition features 24 captivating paintings created over several years, reflecting Natalia's extensive travels and her profound connection with Nepal and India since 2006.

Through her art, she brings to life the majestic landscapes of the Himalayas, intricate architecture, and the vibrant culture of the region.
This exhibition is dedicated to the memory of Alexander Mikhailovich Kadakin, a distinguished Russian diplomat and former Ambassador to Nepal, India, and Sweden.

A great admirer of Natalia’s work, Kadakin played a pivotal role in supporting her artistic endeavors in South Asia.

Organized in collaboration with the Russian House, the event attracted prominent dignitaries, cultural figures, and art enthusiasts.

It stands as a celebration of the enduring cultural ties between Russia and Nepal and showcases the artist’s remarkable artistic journey.

The exhibition "In Search of Shambhala" will remain open for public viewing at the Russian House, Kathmandu.

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has made notable strides in conservation and reconstruction of cultural heritages damaged by earthquake in 2015 and 2023.

The Ministry had set a target to carry out reconstruction of 25 such cultural heritages within the current fiscal year 2024/25.

By the middle of the fiscal year (mid-January), 27 such heritages have been successfully rebuilt and preserved, surpassing its target.

Progress relating to reconstruction of cultural heritages was, however, slower in the last fiscal year with 13 out of 24 planned stupas were completed across Dhading, Rasuwa, Sindhupalchowk and Dolakha districts.

This year, the Ministry attained an impressive progress in cultural heritages preservation efforts.

Joint-Secretary Ramkrishna Lamichhane informed that 20 heritage conservation works were scheduled for fiscal year 2023/24, a total of 40 have been completed so far.

Joint-Secretary Lamichhane further said that the Ministry has developed a concept paper for building eco-hill stations and establishing tourism spots in hilltops and thus has taken forward location selection process.

The Ministry has monitored three airlines companies to ensure compliance of safety standards.

Similarly, out of 50,000 pages that were to be collected, cataloged and preserved using chemicals, 10,000 pages have been collected and cataloged and preserved.

In a continuation of conservation work of heritage sites at Simraunagadh area in Bara district, the Ministry said that a notice of bidding has been published and evaluated and mandate has been given.

Also, the expansion of road network till eastern side of Bihar area in Bihar State of India under the Lumbini Master Plan recorded 68 per cent progress in the current fiscal year while electrification, road construction works at the cultural centre under the Lumbini Masterplan have been completed by 84 per cent till date, the Ministry added.