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The cases of lumpy skin disease, a viral infection that afflicts cattle, are on the rise in Lalitpur.

The disease that is transmitted by the bites from insects like flies, mosquitoes and ticks has so far affected 1,431 animals with 83 fatalities since mid-April, according to Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Service Center Lalitpur's Dr Nisha Timilsina.

The Center has so far vaccinated 8,300 cattle including 5,000 in Godawari Municipality alone against lumpy skin.

The municipality reports 296 cases of the disease.

The Kathmandu metropolis has decided to launch a Covid-19 vaccination drive once again targeting nine wards from August 6. The vaccination will continue till August 9.

According to Health Department Chief of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office Ram Prasad Paudel, the campaign aims to vaccinate people above 12 years of age.

The local government decided to conduct the vaccination campaign against the infectious disease as it found that some citizens here have not received even a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

It will be organized in wards 6, 11, 14, 17 and 31 on August 6-7 and in wards 12, 15, 19 and 32 on August 8-9.

In Kathmandu, 90 percent citizens have received the first dose of the vaccine while 88 percent have got the second dose, 43 percent are inoculated with the third dose and only six percent have taken the fourth dose, the KMC Office Vaccination Section Chief Dr Abhiyan Gautam said.

Chandani Sharma (21) of Baglung had heard that paragliding is operated in the skies of Pokhara, but she hadn’t imagined she would one day soar like birds. A student of BEd at the Prithvi Narayan Campus, Sharma was aware that Blind Rocks was taking visually impaired individuals for paragliding, but she didn’t believe she would get the opportunity herself.

“When Shristi informed me on Sunday that I would get a chance to paraglide, I was very curious. People used to say the sky is blue, but I have never experienced it,” Sharma said. “Soaring like birds and feeling the cold breeze was a memorable experience for me.”

Sharma said that events like this are important to send a message to society which still believes that people with disabilities can do nothing. “Although I could see nothing, my pilot Ram Gautam described to me how Pokhara looks from the sky,” she added.

Blind Rocks organized the inclusive paragliding program to spread the message that physical disabilities and visual impairment do not stop anyone from reaching new heights in life. Shristi KC, the founder of Blind Rocks, also thoroughly enjoyed her flight. “Entering into the clouds was the highlight of the experience. I always dreamed of flying above the clouds. It was a fun-filled experience,” KC added.

KC shared how her pilot briefed her about everything during the flight. “He informed me when we entered the cloud and described the green fields, Harpan Khola entering Fewa Lake, and the overall scenery of Pokhara,” she added. She also explained how her first paragliding experience brought positivity into her life and felt that other visually impaired individuals should also have the opportunity. As a result, she arranged for 10 visually impaired individuals, including two foreigners, to experience paragliding through her organization.

Thomas Sidleyn of Australia and Christopher John of the US expressed their happiness in listening to their pilots’ descriptions of the bird’s eye view of Pokhara city. For Thomas, a member of Blind Rocks, who is visiting Nepal for the second time, this was his first paragliding flight. “It’s not necessary to see to enjoy the beauty. We can also listen to others’ experiences and sense our surroundings,” he added. The program was organized in coordination with the Pokhara Metropolitan City, and the Nepal Air Sports Association offered free flights to visually impaired individuals.

A man shot his wife dead at Byas Municipality in Tanahun on Tuesday.

Shree Prasad Ale (56) of Byas-5, Manung shot dead his spouse Geeta Ale (47) at 11 pm yesterday.

He used a home-made gun to kill his spouse.

Geeta, who sustained severe bullet injuries in the incident, died while undergoing treatment at the Damauli Hospital, said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) at the District Police Office Mohan Bahadur Khand.

Police arrested Shree Prasad immediately after the incident last night.

As per the preliminary investigation, the incident occurred due to dispute over family affairs, police said.

Investigation into the incident is underway.