Nepal records 15 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday
Nepal reported 15new Covid-19 cases on Thursday.
According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 4, 822 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which 15 returned positive. Likewise, 993 people underwent antigen tests, of which no one were tested positive.
The Ministry said that no one died of virus in the last 24 hours. The Ministry said that 18 infected people recovered from the disease.
As of today, there are 249 active cases in the country.
Indian heat wave disrupts industrial activity as power demand soars
India's northwestern Rajasthan state scheduled four hours of power cuts for factories, making it at least the third state to disrupt industrial activity to manage surging power demand amid an intense heat wave, Reuters reported.
Extreme heat continued to scorch large swathes of south Asia this week, offering no reprieve after the hottest March on record in India, and triggering comments from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on India getting too hot too early.
India's western Gujarat state and Andhra Pradesh restricted industrial activity this month as air conditioning demand peaked and economic activity picked up following an end to coronavirus-related restrictions.
The desert state of Rajasthan also imposed four-hour power cuts for rural regions, exposing thousands of families in the desert state to extreme temperatures, with peak summer heat still to come before cooling monsoon rains arrive in June, according to Reuters.
Maximum power demand in India surged to a record high on Tuesday, and is seen rising by as much as a tenth next month. The India Meteorological Department has warned of worse heatwave conditions in the coming days.
The unprecendented heat puts millions of blue-collar workers, including construction and farm labourers and those working on factory shop floors, at great risk. Sunstrokes have claimed thousands of Indian lives in the past.
Industrial disruption and widespread power cuts are also bad news for corporate India, as economic activity has just started to pick up after months of stagnation amid coronavirus lockdowns.
A rapid rise in power demand has also left India scrambling for coal, the dominant fuel used in electricity generation. Coal inventories are at the lowest pre-summer levels in at least nine years and electricity demand is seen rising at the fastest pace in nearly four decades, Reuters reported.
A train shortage is exacerbating the crisis, with India's power secretary telling a court-ordained meeting this week that train availability was 6% lower than required.
NAC to conduct test flight at Gautam Buddha International Airport today
The national flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) will be conducting an ‘operational performance test flight’ at Gautam Buddha International Airport that serves as the country’s second international airport, today.
The NAC A330 wide-body aircraft is scheduled to take off from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) at 3:00 pm and land in Bhairahawa of Lumbini where the second international airport is located following a 45-minute flight.
The test flight by the wide-body airbus at the country’s another international airport built after 74 years of the establishment of the first one is said to be historic.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal ( CAAN) director-general engineer Pradip Adhikari, the establishment of another international airport is really significant achievement for the nation. The wide-body aircraft will be landing beside Kathmandu for the first time in the country’s history. “It will be a milestone for the country’s aviation service sector. “
According to CAAN, domestic airports in Terai areas as well as Gautam Buddha International Airport are coming into operation for 18 hours daily from today. Similarly, international commercial flights would be operated at Gautam Buddha International Airport for 24 hours from upcoming May 16.
Director-General Adhikari said that it is the first national pride project coming in full operation after its completion.
‘Operational Performance Test Flight’ is going to be conducted by the wide-body aircraft in order to disseminate the message that another international airport has come into operation and any airline companies from across the world could make flights in Nepal.
The much-awaited second international airport, Gautam Buddha International Airport, has formally come into operation on May 22, 2021. However, international flights would be launched regularly at the airport from May 16. Jazeera Airlines has got permission to operate its flight at the airport and has been making necessary preparation in this regard.
Cash-strapped Nepal bans imports of cars, cuts work week
Nepal banned imports of cars, alcohol, tobacco and other luxury items Wednesday and shortened its work week to help conserve its dwindling supply of foreign exchange, Associated Press reported.
A notice published in the government gazette said only emergency vehicles can be imported. No imports of any type of alcohol or tobacco products, large-engine motorcycles and mobile phones costing over $600 dollars will be allowed.
The ban, in effect until the end of the fiscal year in mid-July, also forbids imports of toys, playing cards and diamonds.
Without such drastic measures, the foreign currency reserves needed to import almost everything will last only a few more months, officials said, according to the Associated Press.
Nepal's main sources of foreign currency are tourism, remittances from overseas workers and foreign aid.
Hundreds of thousands of foreign tourists usually visit the Himalayan country every year, but the number of visitors plunged during the pandemic.
Rising prices for oil have added to pressure on Nepal's foreign reserves. So to conserve fuel, Information Minister Gyanendra Karki announced Wednesday that the government would reduce the work week from five and a half days to five.
However the crisis is already easing, he said, as tourists resume visits and more Nepalis go overseas to work, sending their earnings home, Associated Press reported.