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Around 300, 000 security personnel will take up security responsibilities during the elections of the House of Representatives (HoR) and Province Assembly. The government has announced to hold the elections in a single phase and the voting for the twin elections will be taking place on coming November 20. The Nepal Police has planned to mobilize 71, 693 police personnel and 115, 000 temporary police for the elections while the Nepali Army and Armed Police Force are preparing to mobilize 71,000 and 35,000 personnel. Similarly, over 200, 000 will be there in the election from the National Investigation Department. In total, 294, 000 is the tentative number of security forces to be mobilized for the election purposes. However, the number could slightly change in accordance with the election's Central Security Plan according to security officials. It may be noted that the Home Ministry is yet to give a final shape to the election's Central Security Plan.

Nepal reported 269 new Covid-19 cases and one death on Thursday. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 1, 732 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which 180 returned positive. Likewise, 1, 835 people underwent antigen tests, of which 89 were tested positive. The Ministry said that 215 infected people recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours. As of today, there are 3, 158 active cases in the country.

The number of dengue patients has started increasing in the district. Medical Superintendent at the District Hospital, Dr Madhukar Dahal, said dengue was confirmed in 11 patients who visited the hospital on Tuesday alone. Dengue patients have started increasing at a time when the number of people suffering from cold, cough and fever has also climbed in the hospital. Out of the patients who visited the hospital in the month of Shrawan and till date in Bhadra, dengue was confirmed in 114 people. A total of 11 dengue patients have been receiving treatment. A dengue patient lost his life in the District Hospital in the course of treatment.  

The Hindu women across the country are observing the Rishipanchami festival today as per the rituals. The festival, the concluding day of the Teej, is observed on the fifth day of bright half moon of the month of Bhadra. Hindu women reaching their menstruation period observe this festival with due respect and importance by fasting and paying homage to the Saptarshis (seven powerful saints as per the Hindu mythology) with a belief that they will be blessed and forgiven for all sins they believed to have committed during the menstrual cycle. On the day, those observing the festival wake up early in the morning, go to nearby river, stream, pond and lake and take bath with established rituals. They clean their body with 365 stems of Apamarga, a medicinal plant; take bath with cow dung and soil collected from sacred places and ash. The fasting ritual requires the devotee to take bath in the morning and carryout prayers after which the person is required to eat grains, vegetables, wild fruits, Kandamul, guava for a single meal and fast again. On this day, woman devotees throng the Shrisheshwar Temple in Teku of the capital city, Kathmandu, and other Rishi Temples across the nation for homage and worship.