Submit your Article

A group of three unidentified persons robbed a man of Rs 8 million in Janakpur on Monday.

They robbed Birendra Mahato, an employee of Subha Savings and Loan Cooperative, by brandishing a pistol at Thumauna Pokhari in Janakpur Sub-Metropolitan City-19 at 12: 40 pm while he was heading towards Dhanusha on a motorbike after withdrawing Rs 8 million from the Janakpur-based Himalayan Bank.

A team of the District Police Office, Dhanusha under the headship of Superintendent of Police immediately reached the site after receiving the information about the incident.

DSP Ranjan Awale said that they are investigating into the incident.

Wildfires have destroyed around 5, 000 hectares of forest in Banke.  

According to the District Forest Office, Banke, a total of 76 community forests and one Chakla Forest have been affected by the fires. There are around 100 community forests in Banke.

Birendra Rokka, Assistant Forest Officer and Information Officer of the District Forest Office, said that the forest fires have been brought under control in most of the forests with the help of eight fire engines.

To control the fires, 30 km of fire lines have been constructed in Chakla forest and 20 km in various community forests. The fires are reported to have started due to the long dry season without rainfall and also by the carelessness of people.

Due to the fires, rabbits, snakes, and different species of birds have died.

Meanwhile, 105 incidents of fire have occurred in various local levels of Banke.

A person has died and six others were injured in the incidents, said Assistant Chief District Officer Jorasingh Majhi. A total of 104 cattle heads have perished in the fire incidents.

Property worth around Rs 17.7 million was destroyed in the incidents that have occurred in Narainapur, Raptisonari, Janaki and Nepalgunj.

More than 10,000 people have applied for the 'Skill Fair 2081 BS' conducted by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) on May 1. KMC organized the fair with the goal of training 2,081 people but more than 10,000 applied for the same.

According to Bimala Koirala, acting head of KMC Social Development Department, all those who fill the application (form) will be provided training.

She informed that the applicants who fill the form before May 1 will be allowed to participate in the skill fair. Koirala said that there is a plan to provide them with the training schedule by Friday, May 10. She further informed that training will be provided at various stages in collaboration with various campuses and community schools for those who fill the form after May 2.

She shared that 2, 081 of those who filled the form will be trained immediately and others will be trained for the next three years based on their needs. The skill fair has been started under KMC's Gaurav Yojana (Pride Project) under 'Increase in Employment and Income, Prosperity of Kathmandu'.

For the fair, the KMC has collaborated with the Nepal Training and Employment Association.

According to the KMC, the aim is to provide training in 36 occupations in 10 areas. The KMC believes that the fair will integrate skills that are scattered and help people with skills reach employers. Koirala further informed that people who have completed 18 years of age up to 58 years of age can participate in the training.

For those who find it difficult to fill the details online, arrangements were made to fill the form on paper from the ward office as well. The participants who came to Tundikhel on the opening day should be able to fill the form from that place as well, the KMC said.

Kathmandu's Air Quality Index has reached 177 to be ranked the world's second most polluted city after New Delhi of India.

Last Thursday, Kathmandu's AQI was 168 and it measured 195 on Wednesday and 185 on Saturday.

New Delhi's AQI has reached 245 while Beijing, China has been listed as the third most polluted city in the world with an AQI of 172, it is stated.

The main contributors to air pollution include carbon emissions from vehicles, dust from road repairs and construction, emissions from industries and brick kilns, poor waste management practices, and forest fires. Addressing these issues systematically is needed, according to experts concerned.

Cases of forest fires and fire are prevalent presently and it has led to an increase in air pollution besides the loss of lives and properties. The Department of Environment said the Satellite data shows that as of now there are 1,653 cases of wildfire and fire since the beginning of the year 2024.

AQI from 0-50 is considered good for public health as it is indicated by a green signal while 51-100 is moderate and marked by yellow, but it still warns us to be careful on time.

It is unhealthy specifically for sensitive groups such as those who have respiratory and cardiac issues if measured from 101-150 and is highlighted by orange. 

Similarly, AQI from 151-200 is indicated by red to suggest that it is unhealthy for all, 201-300 is highlighted by purple and it is very unhealthy.  If it is measured 301-400, it is hazardous and 401-500 is highly hazardous to health and it is denoted by maroon.