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China Aid has joined hands with United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to support schools and communities in Madhesh Province of Nepal.

As part of the assistance, a special project to “Support for schools and communities in remote areas for Pandemic Prevention and Green Recovery” was unveiled in Barahathawa Municipality in Sarlahi district on Thursday.

The project will support 25 government schools in Sarlahi and Rautahat districts, benefiting 15,000 students, and 7500 families.

Addressing the function, Provincial Minister for Physical Infrastructures and Development Saroj Kumar Yadav expressed gratitude for selecting Madhesh Province and establishing new model projects in the region.

Stating that mega development projects are being developed in China, Yadav said that it could have a huge significance for Nepal’s development and prosperity.

On the occasion, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song remarked that the project would create safe and healthy learning environment for students and communities against extreme weather events, disasters and extreme shocks.

“In 2022, the Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative released the first batch of 50 projects of GDI projects pool, in which this project was included,” Song said, adding that the projects of GDI have been creating huge contributions to Nepal and the world.

He also announced two major projects including ‘clean drinking water’ and ‘lightening the villages’ starting from Madhesh Province.

In response, Mayor of Barahathawa Municipality Kalpana Kumari Katuwal remarked that the support would be highly beneficial for the local communities.

"I believe this is a new beginning, and together with the partners, we can bring bright changes in the lives of general public, mostly to poor and backward communities.”

Jullien Chevillard, UNDP Nepal’s Deputy Resident Representative, stated that investment in education and green recovery is crucial to address the impacts of climate change, and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The latest project is implemented by China Foundation for Rural Development(CFRD), while was researched by World Education.

Wu Peng, Director of International Development Department of CFRD, informed that the organization has supported more than 60 districts across 7 Provinces, directly benefitting over a half million population.

“With joint partnerships, we want to help communities to be restored from pandemic and disasters, and help Nepali public have a better life,” Peng remarked.

Under the latest project, the schools will be provided with necessary equipments and goods like desks, tables and book racks to enhance learning environment, students with stationaries package, and communities with essential items like mats and improved stoves.

Police on Thursday opened fire to arrest an alleged drug peddler at Ganapur in Janakai Rural Municipality-6, Banke today.

According to the District Police Office, Banke, the suspect has been identified as Sushil Pariyar (26) of Chappargaudi, Kohalpur Municipality-12.

A joint team from the Narcotics Control Bureau, Kathmandu and the District Police Office, Banke had to open fire on him to foil his efforts to evade the arrest, DSP Narayan Dangi of the District Police Office, Banke said.

Pariyar suffered injuries to his left leg and is undergoing treatment at Bheri Hospital, Nepalgunj.

Meanwhile, police have also apprehended local Sharan Bahadur Karki (27) who was accompanying Pariyar.  The team confiscated brown sugar weighing 114.25 grams from them.

The two will face a trial under the Narcotics Drugs (Control) Act, DSP Dangi informed.

The weather has remained partly to generally cloudy throughout the country while light rain is currently taking place at one or two places of the Koshi Province, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said.

At present, there is an influence of westerly wind, local wind as well as a low-pressure system formed around Bihar, India.

According to the Department, the weather will be partly cloudy throughout the country this afternoon. Light rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at some places of the hilly regions, including Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces.

Light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning is likely to occur at some places of the Tarai region. There is a possibility of light snowfall in some places of the high hilly and mountainous areas of the country.

It will be partly to generally cloudy throughout the country tonight. Light to moderate rain accompanied by thunder, lightning and gusty winds is likely to occur at a few places of Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and at one or two places of the rest of the country.

Light snowfall is likely to occur at one or two places of the high hilly and mountainous regions of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki provinces.

According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning is likely to occur at a few places of the hilly region of the country, including Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces and at one or two places of the rest of the Tarai during the next 24 hours.

There is a possibility of light snowfall in some places of the high hilly and mountainous regions of the country, the Department said, urging the people to remain alert of possible impact on daily life including agriculture, health, tourism, mountaineering, road and air transport in the region.

Construction of bridges along the Narayangadh-Muglin road section has gained pace in a way to bring them into operation by mid-November.

Out of a total of 15 bridges in this section, 11 are in operation and four are under construction.

Engineer of the Western Section of Nagdhunga-Muglin Road Project (Narayangadh-Muglin), Krishna Acharya shared that other bridges have already come into operation except Khahare, Namche, Kalikhola and Tuin Khola bridges near Muglin Bazaar.

Works are underway to bring the two bridges into operation by mid-July, he informed. It will take much time since a high wall has to be raised to construct an access road for the bridge constructed over the Khahare rivulet.

Engineer Acharya said works on the Tuin Khola bridge will be completed by mid-November. There are altogether 19 bridges on the road section. The bridges have been constructed with the loan assistance of the World Bank.

The bridge construction has been delayed due to the need to cut the wall nearby Tuin rivulet and distribute compensation to the affected in Khahare.

Landslides used to cause recurring trouble along the section in the rainy season, but now improvements on the status of the roads and bridges have made it a bit easier.