Submit your Article

The Government of Japan has decided to provide grant assistance of Rs 2. 6 billion to Nepal for "Emergency Rehabilitation of Sindhuli Road Affected by Floods”.

The signing ceremony was held in the presence of Finance Minister Rameshwor Prasad Khanal and Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal today.

Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, Maeda Toru, and Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Ghanshyam Upadhyaya, signed the Exchange of Notes for the grant, according to a press release issued by the Embassy of Japan.

The Sindhuli Road is 160km long and links the mid and eastern Tarai with Kathmandu. Its construction had been supported by Japanese grant assistance (25.8 billion yen) from 1995 to 2015, and the road has contributed to the economic growth of Nepal.

Unfortunately, the road was seriously damaged by floods, which was caused by continuous heavy rains in September, 2024. More than 10km of the road was flushed and it has had a severe impact on the local economy and people’s lives as well as Nepali whole economy including trading and transportation.

The Government of Japan supports promoting road restoration and recovery through grant assistance. This road will continue to serve as an essential route, symbolizing friendship between Japan and Nepal.

The Embassy of Japan believes that this project will be instrumental for Nepal in achieving sustainable economic development and further deepening the cordial relationship between Japan and Nepal.

The movement of vehicles along the BP Highway and the Mid-Hill Highway has been restricted at night due to the increased risk of floods and landslides amidst continuous rains. The restriction will be in effect tonight and tomorrow night, according to the District Administration Office (DAO), Sindhuli.

In a public notice issued today, the DAO urged all stakeholders to follow the instruction, which restricts vehicular movement from Sindhuli to Kathmandu from 5 pm to 5 am for two days.

Assistant Chief District Officer Anuj Bhandari urged everyone to refrain from traveling during this period except in emergencies. He added that if heavy rains occur during the day, vehicular movement may be halted at any location at any time. At night, vehicles will be stopped at Khurkot Bazar.

The measure has been taken to ensure the safe travel of passengers and prevent any untoward incidents or loss of life, it is said.

The Karuna Foundation Nepal, an organization working for the welfare of persons with disabilities, is going to distribute artificial hands to 428 people across the country.

The Foundation, in a statement it issued today, said that the distribution of free artificial hands will be started from Koshi Province in the first phase under the support campaign conducted in collaboration with the German Hands Project. 

Foundation's Associate Director Dinesh Dhakal said that the program will be held in Itahari, Koshi Province from November 3 to 12 and 204 people will be provided with artificial hands free of charge.

Recently, a notice was published calling for applications from people who were in need of artificial hands and it was reported that 428 people nationwide were registered. It is stated that beneficiaries from Koshi Province were prioritised in the first phase.

The Foundation has reported that among such beneficiaries, 10 are from Bhojpur, three from Ilam, 61 from Jhapa, 25 from Khotang, 14 from Morang, 19 from Okhaldhunga, 22 from Panchthar, eight from Solukhumbu, eight from Sunsari, two from Tehrathum, and 25 from Udaypur.

It is believed that this campaign will help individuals who have lost limbs regain self-confidence and return to an independent life.

According to the Foundation, the number of people losing their hands each year due to accidents, electric shocks, infections or other reasons is increasing in Nepal, and currently more than 50,000 people across the country are using various types of prosthetic limbs.

Security forces have rescued 72 tourists, including 17 foreigners, who were stranded due to heavy snowfall at the Annapurna Base Camp in Myagdi.

Security personnel were mobilized from Myagdi to assist in the rescue of tourists facing difficulties after the snow covered Hidden Valley along the Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek, which connects Myagdi to Mustang.

As of Thursday morning, all 72 tourists, including foreigners, were rescued with the help of the Armed Police Force, civil police, and local residents. 

The trekking route has remained blanketed by snow since Monday night. 

APF Deputy Superintendent of Police Leela Bahadur Bhujel confirmed that the rescued tourists have been brought down safely to Humkhola.

Twenty tourists, who had lost their way, were rescued with the help of cables. 

Snow along the Maurice Herzog route was cleared to facilitate their descent.

The base camp, situated at an altitude of 4,190 meters above sea level, was affected by rain, snowfall, and bad weather, forcing tourists to halt their journey. 

Visitors staying in hotels at Humkhola, Phutphute, Sadhikharka, Gufaphant, Bhusket Mela, and Panchakunda were safely evacuated with the assistance of security forces.

The weather in these areas remained largely clear throughout Wednesday following the snowfall, but snowfall resumed on Thursday morning.

Trekking to Annapurna Base Camp prohibited till tomorrow 

Chief District Officer of Myagdi, Badri Prasad Tiwari, said that trekking  to the Annapurna Base Camp has been prohibited from Monday to Friday (Oct 31) after an assessment of potential risks due to snowfall and rain.

The District Administration Office and the Annapurna Rural Municipality have issued a public notice appealing people not to visit areas such as Khopra Lek, Ghodepani, Pun Hill, and Moharedada and to adopt precaution.

Meanwhile, a security team has been deployed to rescue three British female tourists and 12 Nepali guides and porters who encountered problems in the 'Hidden Valley' at an altitude of 5,100 metres above sea level while travelling via the base camp of Dhaulagiri in Dhawalagiri-4, Myagdi, to Marpha in Gharapjhong Rural Municipality-2, Mustang.

The team comprising the trained personnel of the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police, which set off from Jomsom on Wednesday for the rescue, reached Alubari in Marpha at an altitude of 3,700 metres above sea level on Thursday morning, said Bishnu Prasad Bhushal, Chief District Officer of Mustang.

“We have received information that the group of tourists has reached Dhampul Lek (mountain pass) from Hidden Valley. 

The security team is making their way towards the Lek.