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The law enforcement body and the air service providers have launched initiative to collect bodies of the five Russian climbers, who died during an expedition to Dhaulagiri peak.

The bodies of the Russian climbers were found at an altitude of 7,100 metres.

Deputy Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Myagdi, Bharat Shrestha, said a five-member team of Sherpa reached the Dhaulagiri peak in a chopper of Air Altitude and started collecting the lifeless bodies.

The five-member team under the leadership of proprietor of Seven Summit Trek, Mingma Sherpa, has been deputed to retrieve the bodies.

The rescue team brought one body at Italy Basecamp from the incident site till 11:00 am and preparation was underway to bring others at the Basecamp, he added.

The climbers had spent a night at the base camp before their ascent. However, they lost contact with authorities at 11:00 am on October 7 They were confirmed dead on October 9.

Collection of the lifeless bodies was delayed due to adverse weather and hostile territory.

The expedition was organized by IAM Trekking & Expedition for a total of 14 climbers, but seven decided to cancel their trip midway.

However, two climbers were successful to reach atop the peak. Earlier, a helicopter had reached the peak to bring the bodies, but returned empty hand. Dhaulagiri is the seventh-highest peak in the world.

It is located at Dhaulagiri Municipality-14.

According to the Department of Tourism, only 14 climbers had received permits for the autumn ascent.

Dengue is spreading rapidly with the number of infected people reaching 19,599 throughout the country, according to the latest data of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD).

The EDCD said nine people have died of the disease so far and it has spread in 76 districts of the country. Dengue has spread the most in Kathmandu with 3,103 cases, followed by Kaski with 2,847 cases, Tanahun with 2,107 cases and Parbat with 1,562 cases.

Similarly, Chitwan reports 971 cases, Lalitpur 827 cases, Gorkha 588 cases, Baglung 610 cases, Bhaktapur 355 cases and Syangja 335 cases.

Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, Research Unit Coordinator at the Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital Teku, said that the risk of dengue rises with the beginning of the post-monsoon period.

According to him, the number of people suffering from dengue is increasing immediately after Dashain. This indicates that dengue is spreading at the community level.

Dengue was confirmed in more than nearly 52, 000 people throughout the country from April 14, 2023 until January 14, 2024. Twenty people had died of the infection in that period.

Hindus across the country are observing the Kojagrat Poornima (full moon day) today as part of the final day of the 15-day Bada Dashain festival by worshiping and paying homage to Mahalaxmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.

The Bada Dashain festival formally ends today with the marking of the Kojagrat Poornima--devotees offering worship to Mahalaxmi at their homes in the evening, and keeping vigil the whole night.

There is a belief that the goddess Mahalaxmi takes a trip around the world on the night of Kojagrat Poornima 'to check as to who is observing the vigil on this particular night'. As per this belief, the goddess of wealth blesses the people who are found observing the overnight vigil, said Member of Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, Prof Devmani Bhattarai.

Since the ritual of giving and receiving Tika and Jamara of the Dashain festival also concludes on this day, the Jamara that is sprouted and anointed at the Dashainghar and Kot on the day of Ghatasthapana is disposed of in ponds, rivers and holy places as per the religious tradition.

People also perform worship at the Swoyambhu Chaitya and observe the night vigil by lighting the Mahadeep lamp.

The Westerly wind has partial influence across the country, combined with the impact of local winds in the hilly region of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki provinces at present, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said.

The weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the hilly region and mainly fair in the rest of the country with chances of light to moderate rain at some places of the hilly region in Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali Provinces in the afternoon today. 

Similarly, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the hilly region and fair in the rest of the country tonight.

There is a possibility of light to moderate rain at one or two places of the hilly region of Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali Provinces, the Department stated in its weather bulletin.

Light to moderate rainfall is forecast at one or two places of the hilly region of all provinces in the next 24 hours.