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Nepal reported 21 new Covid-19 cases on Monday.

According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 1, 990 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which seven returned positive. Likewise, 1, 258 people underwent antigen tests, of which 14 were tested positive.

The Ministry said that no one died of virus in the last 24 hours. The Ministry said that eight infected people recovered from the disease.

As of today, there are 109 active cases in the country.

Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa has urged the government to stop terrifying people in the name of embossed number plate.

Speaking at a meeting of the House of Representatives on Monday, he urged the government to be serious on the issue of embossed number plate.

Leader Thapa said that the government's directive to install embossed number plates in all vehicles was an atrocity against the citizens.

Earlier, the Department of Transport Management had issued a notice asking people of Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces to install embossed number plates to their vehicles by mid-July.

The Department said that action would be taken against those who do not affix embossed number plates to their vehicles.

Saying that it would be too expensive to install embossed number plates, Thapa urged the government to review its decision at the earliest.

An embossed number plate is camera-readable and contains a microchip, which is connected to the vehicle’s GPS system so that the vehicle can be located in the event of theft or accident.

At least 25 persons are confirmed to have died after a bus carrying 28 tourists from Panna district in Madhya Pradesh and two staffers fell in a 150-metre-deep gorge in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand on Sunday evening, The Indian Express reported.

According to officials of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), which is involved in the rescue and relief operation along with the district administration, 25 bodies have been recovered and the five injured people taken to a nearby hospital. The passengers were on their way to Yamunotri Dham in Uttarkashi.

“On Sunday evening we were informed that around 4 km ahead of Damta, under the Purola police station area, a tourist bus fell into a gorge. The bus reportedly had 28-30 passengers and fell into a 150-metre-deep gorge. Soon after getting the information, SDRF teams reached the spot and started a rescue operation. Backup teams from Ujeli, Mori, Chakrata, and Sahastradhara posts have also been sent,” read a statement issued by the SDRF.

“So far, we have recovered 25 bodies from the spot and five were injured. As per unverified information, one of the injured died during treatment. There were a total of 30 persons on the bus–28 pilgrims, a driver and a conductor,” said an SDRF official, adding that the rescue operation was going on.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced ex gratia compensation of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the kin of those killed in the accident. The injured would be given Rs 50,000 each.

In a tweet from the PMO India Twitter account, Modi said the bus accident in Uttarakhand was heart-wrenching. “I express my condolences to those who lost their loved ones. The local administration in the supervision of the state government is trying to provide every possible help,” he tweeted, according to The Indian Express.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reached the disaster control room in Dehradun and directed the district administration to carry out relief and rescue work expeditiously. Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh also expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah talked to Dhami over the incident and said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams had also been deployed to help with the search and rescue operation.

“The information of a bus carrying devotees falling into a gorge is sad. I have talked to CM Pushkar Singh Dhami regarding the incident. Local administration and SDRF teams are involved in the rescue operation and those injured are being taken to nearby hospitals. The NDRF will also reach there soon,” Shah tweeted.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the death of the pilgrims from Panna was unfortunate. “I and my team are in constant touch with the Uttarakhand government and district administration. Arrangements are being made for the treatment of the injured and bringing the bodies of the deceased to Madhya Pradesh. The families should not consider themselves alone in this time of crisis. We all are with the grieving families,” he tweeted, The Indian Express reported.

A person died and another sustained injuries when a motorbike they were riding on met with an accident at Danda in Ratuwamai Municipality-9 of Morang district on Sunday.

The deceased has been identified as Raj Kumar Sharma (25) of Sunbarsi Municipality-9.

Police said that the incident occurred after Sharma lost control of the bike (Me 4 Pa 4551) at around 5:20 pm yesterday.

Critically injured in the incident, Sharma was rushed to the Rangeli Hospital but doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

Pillion rider Kishan Kumajar (22) of Arariya Kusakatta, India was injured in the accident, police said.

He is undergoing treatment at the Rangeli Hospital.

Police said that they are investigating the case.