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At least nine persons died when a bus they were traveling in plunged into the Trishuli river near Gajuri along the Prithvi Highway on Wednesday.

A police official deployed at the incident site said that they have recovered nine bodies.

He said that more than eight persons have been rescued and taken to the Gajuri Community Hospital for treatment.

The bus (Pradesh 3-01-005 Kha 9952) belonging to the Myagdi Korala Yatayat was heading towards Beni, district headquarters of Myagdi, via Pokhara from Kathmandu when the incident occurred at around 11 am today.

A large number of security personnel along with the rescue team of Armed Police Force have been deployed to the incident site.

The injured have been referred to Kathmandu after their treatment was not possible in Gajuri Community Hospital.

The existing position of the monsoon trough has shifted towards the north than its average position.

As a result, Nepal, along with central Madhya Pradesh and adjoining areas in India, is currently experiencing the effects of a low-pressure system, according to the Meteorological Forecasting Division.

The Division said that the weather is generally cloudy throughout the country. Light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at some places of Sudurpashchim Province and hilly regions of the rest of the country and at a few places in the rest of the country. Likewise heavy rain with thunder and lightning has been predicted at one or two places of the Sudurpashchim.

Similarly, tonight there will be generally to mostly cloudy throughout the country. Light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning has been forecast at some places of Koshi, Madesh, Bagmati , Gandaki  and Lumbini .

The same atmospheric condition has been predicted at a few places in the rest of the provinces. There are chances of heavy rain with thunder and lightning at one or two places of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini, according to meteorologist Sanjib Adhikari.

The Division has urged one and all to remain alert to potential consequences from heavy rains with lightning expected in certain parts of the country in the next 24 hours.  

The Press Council has urged the Tourism Ministry to take action against the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal for trying to curtail the freedom of press and expression and editorial freedom.

Saying that the CAAN’s move to seek clarification directly to the operator of the Annapurna Post daily over the news published in the newspaper is a violation of the prevailing laws and regulations, the Council has written to the concerned ministry.

Stressing that authority to write and publish news and editorials rests with editors, not investors, the Council said that the Authority’s decision to seek clarification by linking the publisher with another business is against the existing law and practice.

Earlier on August 18, the Authority had sent a letter asking clarification with Simrik Air Chairman Captain Rameshwar Thapa, who is also the Chairman of the AMN, over news published in Annapurna Post daily under the Annapurna Media Network.

The clarification letter states that AMN has repeatedly disseminated news, analyses, and comments that gravely undermine flight safety. The letter further points out that despite Capt Thapa’s role as the head of an airline company responsible for upholding flight safety, he seems to have misused his publishing rights through his media outlet, engaging in misleading and rumor-spreading activities.

ALSO READ: CAAN’s anti-press freedom move draws criticisms

 Later, the Annapurna Media Network filed an application at the Press Council saying that the individuals and organizations dissatisfied with media reports can move the press council.

Concluding that the Authority’s move has infringed the freedom of press and expression, a meeting of the Code of Conduct Monitoring Sub-Committee of the Council held on Tuesday drew the attention of the Ministry.

Saying that the clarification sought with the Annapurna Media Network was not in accordance with the law, the meeting has decided to inform the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Council Deputy Spokesperson and Information Officer Ram Sharan Bohara said.

“The content published or broadcast in the media falls under editorial responsibility,” the letter sent to the Ministry by the Council states. There is a provision to move the Press Council if the individuals or the organizations are dissatisfied with the media reports.

The Council said that its serious attention has been drawn over the Authority’s move to seek direct clarification from the publisher.

Earlier on July 31, the Authority had made a decision not to operate flights after 12 noon in the 29 airports of remote areas. Owing to the Authority’s such decision, patients with serious health conditions could not go outside the district for treatment.

Because of which, four children lost their lives in Humla.

Following the incident, the Annapurna Post daily covered news about the problems the Karnali Province people have been facing after the Authority prohibited the flights after 12 noon in hilly districts.

The Karnali Province government, lawmakers, civil society and entrepreneurs piled pressure on the Authority to correct its decision.

ALSO READ: CAAN move condemnable

On August 17, the Authority quashed its earlier decision regarding air flights.

But on August 18, the Authority sought clarification with the publisher over the news published in the newspaper.

Vehicular movement along the Narayangadh-Munglin road section has resumed from Tuesday afternoon after 17 hours.

The road section was obstructed following a landslide at Namsikhola in Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality- 6 of Chitwan at 8 pm on Monday, Information Office at the Road Division Office, Chitwan Chandeshwor Sah said.

The vehicles that were stranded due to the landslide have headed towards their respective destinations.