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The monsoon winds have widespread effects throughout the country and the monsoon low pressure line is towards the western part of its average location and in some northern direction towards the east of its average location, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said.

The weather thus will be partly to generally cloudy throughout the country at present. Light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning is taking place at a few places of Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces and at one or two places of rest of the provinces.

According to the Department, it will be generally cloudy throughout the country this afternoon. Light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at some places of all the provinces.

Heavy rainfall is likely to occur at a few places of Koshi, Madhes and Sudurpaschim Provinces and at one or two places of the rest of the provinces.

Similarly, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy throughout the country tonight with chances of light to moderate rain accompanied by thunder and lightning at some places of all the provinces. 

Heavy rainfall is also likely to occur at one or two places of Koshi and Madhes Provinces. Light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at a few places of the province in the next 24 hours.

In view of possible heavy rainfall at some places of Koshi, Madhes and Lumbini Provinces, the Department has urged the general public of these areas to adopt precautionary safety measures.

The Ministry of Health and Population and the National Innovation Center have signed an agreement for collaboration in repair, maintenance and management of medical appliances at 17 hospitals under the purview of the federal government.

Dr Madan Upadhyay, Chief of the Ministry's Quality Measurement and Regulation Division and Dr Mahabir Pun signed on a letter of agreement to that connection on behalf of the Division and the Center, respectively.

Minister for Health and Population Pradip Paudel witnessed the signing of the agreement.

On the occasion, Minister Paudel said that the Ministry is collaborating with the Center as it is necessary to make the health equipment functional and well-managed for managing the health sector in the context of limited resources with the State.

"We are immediately not in a position to purchase the required medical equipment due to the resource constraints. This agreement that has been reached with the goal of making the most out of the available equipment with us is an important initiative," he said. 

Stating that much amount that would be spent on buying new equipment would be spared if the equipment that are lying idle could be repaired and maintained and reused, he said works on repair and maintenance of such equipment has been initiated now.

The health minister expressed happiness to give the responsibility of an important work as managing the medical equipment to a renowned and established organization of the country. He added that this culture of partnership indicates that the State has confidence in the domestic organizations and workforce.

Center chairperson Pun said that the National Innovation Center has got another significant responsibility in connection with improvement of the health sector. "This responsibility is related to the repair and maintenance of biomedical equipment at government hospitals and to determine the condition of such appliances," he elaborated.

The Annapurna Conservation Area, the renowned destination for trekking globally, reported 21 deaths due to altitude sickness during the fiscal year 2080-81 BS (2023-24).  Of them, six are Nepalis.

According to Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Chief, Dr Rabin Kadariya, among the dead, 11 are Indians, two are Malaysians, one is Ukrainian and one is Briton.

Most of the casualties took place along the Muktinath area in Mustang.

Some people suffering from altitude sickness were rescued by helicopters.

Kadariya said that the ACAP started archiving such incidents last year.

A journey to a high altitude demands special care. It should be undertaken gradually, getting adjusted to the atmospheric conditions, he said. Once the altitude sickness is sensed, one should promptly climb down, he said.

A human skeleton of a Swedish national who had been missing during the Mardi Peak trek was found recently after seven months of missing. 

A sole trek along a long route is not recommended. It must be observed in a group or accompanied by a guide. 

The ACAP welcomed 222,180 foreign tourists last year. Of them, 117,845 were from Asian countries, and 104,256 were from other countries.

The highest arrivals: 35,265 were in the month of Chaitra (March-April) and the lowest was 5, 401 in the month of Shrawan (July-August), the first month of the fiscal year.

Dr Kadariya said last year around 50,000 plus people visited the area compared to the previous fiscal year. A total of 172,510 people: 89,777 from South Asia and 82,733 visited the area during the fiscal year 2079-80 BS (2022-23).

The Annapurna Conservation Area spanning 7,600 square kilometers covers 89 wards of 16 local levels in Kaski, Lamjung, Manang, Myagdi, and Mustang.

Rich in natural beauty, bio-diversities, civilization, unique mountain life, and culture, the Annapurna Conservation Area is one of the most desired trekking routes for people from home and abroad.

Adverse weather affected the flights at Tribhuvan International Airport on Wednesday.

According to TIA's General Manager Jagannath Niraula, adverse weather and subsequent low visibility issues have affected both domestic and international flights.

Niraula said that flights to Pokhara have been canceled and those to Janakpur and Simara have been delayed.

Towards international service, a flight by Air China has been diverted back. It was scheduled to land at TIA at 10:55 am today. Some international flights were made to be on hold.  

Buddha Air's information officer Dipendra Kumar Karna confirmed the cancellation of the Kathmandu-Pokhara flight while the flight towards Bharatpur Airport was delayed.

The Buddha's air flight to Surkhet this morning was diverted to Pokhara owing to the adverse weather that generally affected the domestic services at TIA on Tuesday.

At present, the country is under the influence of monsoon wind.

According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, presently the monsoon trough is positioned slightly northward, triggering partial to general rainfall across the country. 

Presently, light to moderate rain with thunder is taking place in some parts of Koshi, Gandaki, Lumbini, and Sudurpaschim Provinces and a few places in the rest of the provinces.

Heavy rain has been forecast at one or two places of the Koshi, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpashim Provinces.