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An earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale jolted the Kathmandu Valley this morning.

The quake with its epicenter around Khari of Dhadhing was recorded at 7:39 am today, according to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center's Chief Lok Bijay Adhikari.

The tremor's effects were also felt in the surrounding districts of Dhading.

Kathmandu: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country's first international airport, is now operating at full capacity for the first time in its 73-year history.

According to the TIA office, Nepal’s busiest airport has experienced a significant increase in flight operations in recent days. Previously, the airport handled around 90 two-way flights daily, but that number has now risen to 110-114.

TIA’s General Manager, Pratab Babu Tiwari, reported that the airport has been serving 16,000-17,000 passengers daily since Ghatasthapana, the first day of Dashain, which commenced on Oct 15. On Oct 16, the airport witnessed a record-breaking 114 international flights, marking the highest number of daily operations in its history. The following day, this number remained high at 110 flights.

At present, TIA is reporting the highest number of flight operations in its history, thanks to the festive season and the beginning of the tourist season.

In terms of domestic service, there are 370 two-way flights operating daily to serve around 14,000 passengers.

As General Manager Tiwari mentioned, the airport is currently handling around 500 flights, both domestic and international, each day. There has been a significant increase in the number of daily flights recently, with the number of flights and passengers at an all-time high in the airport's history.

On Oct 18, the airport served over 15,000 domestic passengers. Flights of the national flag-carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation are in high demand, but they are struggling to meet the demand due to a limited number of aircraft. NAC Spokesperson Ramesh Poudel stated that NAC currently serves 16 destinations within the country through 22 flights, assisted by its two twin-otters, and flights to remote areas are limited.

Gyanendra Bhul, the information officer of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), mentioned that TIA has the capacity to handle 1,500 international passengers and 500 domestic passengers per hour, with an annual capacity of 9.2m passengers. In 2018, it served 7.2m passengers. After the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a gradual increase in the number of flights and passengers at TIA.

TIA, as the country’s first international airport, witnessed the first-ever arrival flight by the Beechcraft Bonanza, an American general aviation aircraft. The process of converting the then Gauchar Ground into an airstrip began in 1949. On 20 Feb 1950, a Dakota aircraft departed from TIA to Kolkata, formerly Calcutta, marking the airport’s first take-off flight, launched by Himalayan Aviation.

The airport was officially inaugurated in 1955 by the then King Mahendra and was named Tribhuvan International Airport in 1964. In 1967, the airport recorded its first arrival of a jet flight, a Boeing 707 from Lufthansa Airlines, and it began commercial flight operations in 1972.

Kathmandu: The dissenting presidential contenders of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) election have alleged massive irregularities in the online voting of the NRNA International General Assembly 2023, which took place on Oct 19 last year.

Following disputes regarding the fairness of the online election within the Nepali diaspora community, it was agreed to form a three-member technical expert team with a mandate to investigate the alleged irregularities and submit a report within two weeks. RK Sharma, a contender for the presidential position in the 11th general convention of NRNA, confirmed this development.

“It was agreed among the incumbent NRNA ICC Presidents—Kul Acharya, Badri KC, and Rabina Thapa—to postpone the general convention process until a decision could be made based on the probe report. However, the consensus was blatantly violated by the presidential contender KC,” Sharma revealed in a press conference organized by dissenting groups of NRNA in Kathmandu on a Saturday evening.

Another presidential contender, Mahesh Shrestha, stated that KC had influenced the election committee and declared himself the President, which he described as both shameful and contemptible. “Taking the oath of office by violating the consensus reached among the sitting Presidents is unacceptable,” he added.

Both candidates, Sharma and Shrestha, expressed their support for the decision of the NRNA ICC Presidents, Acharya and Thapa, along with the majority of delegates, in accordance with the NRNA statute, as was shared during the conference.

The candidates indicated their acceptance of the decision made at the ongoing general convention. It is worth noting that KC, Sharma, and Shrestha had all competed for the presidential position in the NRNA. Sharma and Shrestha rejected the results, claiming that there was sponsored technological manipulation aimed at ensuring KC’s victory.

Kathmandu: The ‘Phulpati Badhai’, feu de joie, was organized at the Nepal Army Pavilion in Tundikhel, Kathmandu, on Saturday afternoon. This day marks the seventh day of the ongoing 10-day Dashain festival.

President Ramchandra Paudel, who holds the constitutional role of Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Nepal Army, graced the event as the chief guest. On this occasion, the Nepal Army showcased a parade.

A military chopper that flew over the army pavilion displayed a banner that read ‘Phupati Badhai Ceremony 2080 BS’ and showered flowers. The army band played patriotic songs as well as various other tunes.

Furthermore, various army troops performed drills and marched past.

Vice-President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Chief Justice Bishwambhar Shrestha, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Purna Bahadur Khadka, among others, witnessed the parade.

The Phulpati Badhai is a unique and distinguished program that upholds religion, culture, and tradition. It is a long-standing tradition of the Nepali Army to observe the Phulpati Badhai with great fervor.

On this day, a palanquin containing the Jamara (barley shoots) and Phulpati—an assortment of flowers, leaves, and fruits from different auspicious parts—is brought into Hanumandhoka Durbar in Kathmandu from Gorkha Durbar.