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Two motorable bridges over the Karnali river have been constructed to link Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces, benefiting thousands of people from both the provinces.

Development of the two bridges has ensured better services to the locals besides promotion of trade and business in the provinces.

The bridges constructed would link Panchapuri Municipality and Chaukune Rural Municipality in Surkhet district and Mohanyal Rural Municipality-7 in Kailali district.

With the construction of this bridge, people have started their journey along the Kuyine-Chisapani road section.

Chairman of Panchapuri Municipality-11 in Surkhet Hari Prasad Dhakal said the bridges have facilitated the journey of residents from Dailekh, Achham, Kalikot, Humla and Jumla districts.

The 550 metres long bridge over the Karnali river connecting Mohanyal Rural Municipality-7 and Chaukune Rural Municipality-10 has eight spans and was constructed at the investment of Rs 620 million.

The next bridge is being constructed at Kuyineghat links Mohanyal Rural Municipality-7 in Kailali and Panchapuri Municipality-11 in Surkhet. Construction works of this bridge are at the final stage and the bridge would be brought into operation within some days, it is said. The estimated cost of the bridge is Rs 320 million.

Both the bridges are constructed under the Bridge Project of the Department of Roads of the Government of Nepal.

The government has given continuity to the ban on various 10 items.

The government, which had imposed a ban on these items till mid-July, has extended the ban till August 30.

Publishing a notice in the Nepal Gazette, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply imposed a ban on Kurkure, Kurmure, cigarettes, diamonds, color televisions, smart phones worth more than USD 300, jeep, car and van among others.

The government had imposed a ban on different items till the end of the current fiscal year by publishing a notice in the Nepal Gazette on April 26.

Earlier, the government had restricted people from bringing phones worth more than USD 600.

Similarly, the government had imposed a ban on motorbikes and scooters with a capacity more than 250 CC.

As many as 54 inmates tested positive for Covid-19 in Morang Prison.

Chief District Officer of Morang Kashi Raj Dahal said that 35 were tested positive on Saturday.

He said that 48 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which 35 returned positive.

According to Dahal, those who were tested negative also have symptoms similar to Covid-19.

Earlier on Friday, 19 jailbirds were tested positive for Covid-19.

Dahal said that the number of people suffering from the Covid-19 has reached 54 after 35 more people tested positive on Saturday.

The latest report showed that the Covid-19 is spreading at an alarming rate in the prison, he said.

CDO Dahal said that preparations are being made to admit those who tested positive for Covid-19 to the Koshi Covid Hospital for further treatment.

“The health condition of those tested positive for Covid-19 is normal. There is a high risk of spreading the virus to other prisoners if they are kept inside the prison,” he said, adding, “Preparations are being made to take them to the hospital to reduce risk inside the prison. For that we are trying to understand the situation of the hospital.”

Despite its capacity to accommodate only 300 prisoners, more than 1, 012 inmates are kept in the prison, Dahal said.

A cargo plane has crashed near the city of Kavala in northern Greece, local officials say, BBC reported.

The Antonov-12 operated by a Ukraine-based company was flying from Serbia to Jordan when it went down on Saturday.

It was not immediately known how many people were on board and whether there were any survivors.

Greece's ERT state broadcaster reported that the aircraft had been carrying a 12-tonne cargo, describing it as potentially dangerous.

The pilot reportedly requested an emergency landing at Kavala airport due to an engine problem but was unable to reach the runway.

Some reports say eight people may have been on board the aircraft. 

Footage has emerged purportedly showing the plane already on fire as it descended followed by a large explosion after it hits the ground.

"At 22:45 (19:45 GMT) I was surprised by the sound of the engine of the aircraft," local resident Giorgos Archontopoulos told the ERT. "I went outside and saw the engine on fire." 

Eyewitnesses also heard blasts according to several media reports, according to BBC.

Local officials said seven fire engines had been deployed but they could not approach the crash site because of continuing explosions.

"We are treating the cargo as dangerous material," Reuters quoted a fire brigade official as saying.

Greece's special disaster response unit was also investigating the scene, Reuters reported.

So far there has been no public comment from Ukraine, Serbia or Jordan, BBC reported.