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Professor Dhruba Kumar, an expert in international relations and security affairs, passed away on Wednesday. He was 73.

According to a family source, he died during the course of treatment at the Dhapasi-based Grande International Hopistal last night.

It has been learnt that that Kumar had been suffering from kidney related problems for the past many years.

He was a columnist for Kantipur daily for about  nine years.

Kumar is survived by his wife and three daughters.

A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Fukushima in northern Japan on Wednesday night, smashing furniture, knocking out power and killing four people. A small tsunami reached shore, but the low-risk advisory was lifted by Thursday morning, Associated Press reported.

The region is part of northern Japan that was devastated by a deadly 9.0 quake and tsunami 11 years ago that caused nuclear reactor meltdowns, spewing massive radiation that still makes some parts uninhabitable.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told a parliamentary session Thursday morning that four people died during the quake and the cause of their deaths are being investigated, while 97 others were injured. A man in his 60s in Soma city died after falling from the second floor of his house while trying to evacuate, and a man in his 70s panicked and suffered a heart attack, Kyodo News reported earlier.

The Japan Meteorological Agency early Thursday lifted its low-risk advisory for a tsunami along the coasts of Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures. Tsunami waves of 30 centimeters (11 inches) reached shore in Ishinomaki, about 390 kilometers (242 miles) northeast of Tokyo. 

The agency upgraded the magnitude of the quake to 7.4 from the initial 7.3, and the depth from 60 kilometers (36 miles) below the sea to 56 kilometers (35 miles).

NHK footage showed broken walls of a department store building fell to the ground and shards of windows scattered on the street near the main train station in the inland prefectural capital of Fukushima city. Roads were cracked and water poured out from pipes underground, according to the Associated Press.

Footage also showed furniture and appliances smashed to the floor at apartments in Fukushima. Cosmetics and other merchandise at convenience stores fell from shelves and scattered on the floor. In Yokohama, near Tokyo, an electric pole nearly fell. 

The Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, which operates the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant where the cooling systems failed after the 2011 disaster, said workers found no abnormalities at the site, which is being decommissioned.

Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority said a fire alarm went off at the turbine building of No. 5 reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi but there was no actual fire. Water pumps for the spent fuel cooling pool at two of the four reactors at Fukushima Daini briefly stopped, but later resumed operation. Fukushima Daini, which survived the 2011 tsunami, is also set for decommissioning.

More than 2.2 million homes were temporarily without electricity in 14 prefectures, including the Tokyo region, but power was restored at most places by the morning, except for about 37,000 homes in the hardest hit Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures, according to the Tohoku Electric Power Co. which services the region.

The quake shook large parts of eastern Japan, including Tokyo, where buildings swayed violently.

East Japan Railway Co. said most of its train services were suspended for safety checks. Some local trains later resumed service, Associated Press reported.

Many people formed long lines outside of major stations while waiting for trains to resume operation late Wednesday, but trains in Tokyo operated normally Thursday morning.

A Tohoku Shinkansen express train partially derailed between Fukushima and Miyagi due to the quake, but nobody was injured, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said.

He told reporters that the government was assessing the extent of damage and promised to do its utmost for rescue and relief operations. 

“Please first take action to save your life,” Kishida tweeted. 

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said authorities were scrambling to assess damage. “We are doing our utmost in rescue operations and putting people’s lives first,” he said. 

He urged residents in the affected areas to use extra caution for possible major aftershocks for about a week, according to the Associated Press.

Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the state-owned monopoly, hiked the prices of petroleum products yet again on Wednesday.

The NOC has decided to increase Rs 5 per litre each in petrol, diesel and kerosene.

As per the new revised rate, the petrol will now cost Rs 155 per litre and diesel and kerosene will cost Rs 138 per litre.

The decision will come into effect from today midnight.

The NOC, however, has not increased the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

Holi or the festival of colours, is being celebrated with much fanfare in hilly areas, including the Capital city, on Thursday, while it will be celebrated in the Terai region tomorrow.

The Phagu Poornima celebration begins with a Holika Dahan or making a bonfire commemorating the death of Holika on the eve of Holi, the symbol of triumph of good over evil.

The next day, people enjoy smearing one another with different colours including Abir or red vermilion powder.

Among various cultural festivals celebrated in Nepal, the Phagu Poornima carries its own specialty and significance. People of all age enjoy the festival with enthusiasm.

One of the widely observed festivals of the country, Phagu Poornima begins on the eighth day of the new moon and ends with burning of the 'Chir' on the full moon day later today.

According to a Hindu myth, demon king Hiranyakashyapu who was unhappy with his son Prahlad for his wholehearted devotion to the God Bishnu ordered his sister Holika to kill Prahalad. Following her brother's instruction Holika who had a boon from the god that fire would not harm her sat on a fire by taking Prahlad on her lap, but was burnt to death while Prahalad remained unhurt due to the blessing of God Bishnu.

From then onwards, the festival also known as Holi is celebrated by smearing colour with enjoyment. There is also a saying that Lord Bishnu had told Holika that the boon she had received would be meaningless if it was misused.

Senior people believe that any premonitions can be avoided if "Tika" made from the ashes of the 'Chir' is put on one's forehead or kept in the house.

The government has declared public holiday to celebrate the festival. 

Meanwhile, as many as 3,500 police personnel have been deployed in Kathmandu Valley to ensure celebration of Holi festival in a peaceful, decent and civilized manner. RSS