1 killed, 13 injured in Panchthar taxi accident
A person died and 13 others were injured when a taxi they were traveling in met with an accident near Krishna Mandir in Phidim-2 of Panchthar on Tuesday.
The identity of the deceased is yet to be established.
The injured are undergoing treatment at the Panchthar Hospital.
The taxi (Me 1 Ja 1941) was heading towards Phidim from Jhapa when the incident occurred.
Police said that they are looking into the case.
30 injured in Chitwan bus-truck collision
At least 30 people have been injured when a bus and a truck collided with each other at Chaudhakilo along the Narayangarh-Muglin road section in Chitwan on Tuesday.
The mishap took place on a bridge at Chaudhakilo in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-29.
The bus (Ra 18 Kha 2236) heading towards Muglin from Narayangarh collided with the truck (Na 6 Kha 4942) this morning, the District Police Office, Chitwan said.
Among the injured, the driver and a passenger are said to be in serious condition while others have received minor injuries, police said.
Eighteen of the injured including the drivers are undergoing treatment at the Old Medical College while others are being treated at the Chitwan Medical College.
Onus on government to implement minimum support price for paddy
The government has fixed the minimum support price of paddy for fiscal year 2023/24 much earlier this year compared to last year.
The cabinet meeting held on July 11 fixed the minimum support price. The minimum support price of paddy has been set at Rs 3,198 per quintal for thick rice, which is Rs 231 higher than the previous fiscal year. Similarly, the minimum support price of medium rice has been fixed at Rs 3,362 per quintal, which is Rs 262 more than the previous fiscal year.
Last year, the government had fixed the minimum support price for paddy in October. This delay compelled farmers to sell paddy at lower prices. As a result, many farmers couldn’t even recover their cost of production. Since government agencies such as the Food Management and Trading Company Ltd and the Farm Modernization Project also delayed paddy procurement, farmers were left with no option but to accept whatever prices the traders offered.
As per the standard, the government should fix the minimum support price before the seedbed is prepared. Although the government fixed the support price during the paddy transplantation season, agriculture expert Krishna Prasad Poudel said it was still late. “The government should fix the minimum support price before the seedbed is prepared. Since spring paddy is transplanted in March, the price should be fixed a month before that,” Poudel said. “This would enable farmers to compare their cost of production with the prices offered and decide whether to cultivate paddy. If the returns are high, they would cultivate it in more areas.”
Prem Dangal, chairman of the National Farmers’ Commission, said the minimum support price would mean nothing until the government agrees to buy all the paddy that farmers grow. “The government agencies procured only 31,000 tons of paddy last year, although 2m tons of paddy are sold in the market every year,” Dangal added. “The government should make necessary preparations to procure all the paddy that farmers intend to sell. Otherwise, there is no point in fixing a minimum support price.”
However, as the minimum support price fixed by the government is higher than the market price, government agencies have been facing difficulty in selling paddy procured from farmers. As a result, they procured paddy at a much later date last year.
Sharmila Neupane Subedi, the spokesperson for the Food Management and Trading Company Ltd, said they would soon issue a circular to all their subordinate offices to make necessary preparations for paddy procurement.
Heavy rain lashes Lumbini Province
Normal life has been affected due to heavy rain taking place in various districts of Lumbini Province, including Rupandehi, since last night.
Heavy precipitation has been recorded in Rupandehi, Palpa, Nawalparasi, Pyuthan and surrounding places.
The risk of flooding has increased in settlements close to the bank of Tinau river which has become swollen following the heavy rainfall.
The Tinau Flood Measurement Centre Butwal said that the water level in the Tinau river has crossed the danger mark and it continues to rise.
People living in settlements near the river bank and at low-lying places have been notified to evacuate to safe places by noon today considering the risk of flooding in the areas.
The Meteorological Forecasting Division has issued an alert to residents of low-lying areas and settlements close to the river banks, and those preparing for travel to take precaution.
Main roads obstructed due to heavy rainfall
Meanwhile, roads have been blocked by landslides triggered by incessant rain at various places in Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Pyuthan, among the districts of the province.
The Highway Security and Traffic Management Office Butwal said the Butwal-Palpa, Gorusinge-Sandhikharka and Bhaluwang-Pyuthan roads have been obstructed by landslides at different places.
