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Two people have died in a tractor accident at  Setibagar of Bhojpur Municipality-3 on Saturday.

The tractor (Province 1-02-003 Ta. 1124) was carrying cow dung from Bokhim- 5 of the municipality when the accident occurred.

The deceased have been identified as 52-year-old Nir Prasad Phuyal, ward member of Bhojpur Municipality-5, and 55-year-old Bhakta Bahadur Thapa, a resident of the same locality, according to District Police Office Chief Yubaraj Timsina. 

Further investigation into the incident is underway while the tractor driver has been taken into custody for necessary action, the police said.

Bhojpur, a district in the eastern hilly region of Nepal, is famous for khukuri. The Bhojpure khukuri, an essential weapon, made in the district is known across the country and abroad.

However, the khukuri industry is facing existential challenges in recent times owing to lack of artisans and raw materials.

The shortage of skilled persons to prepare khukuri is likely to grow more because of the exodus of youths. The youths who used to get skills from the earlier generation are opting for foreign jobs and study at present, said Ghanashyam Bishwokarma, one who runs a furnace to prepare khukuri.

"The number of furnaces used to heat and beat metal to prepare the popular weapon, khukuri, has radically declined in the district," he added. 

The areas producing the weapon are- Kot, Dalgaon, Gogane, Khawa, Khairang, Taksar, Bokhim, Danwa, Timma, Dingla, Deurali, and Jarayotar in the district.

The entrepreneurs complained that the raw materials like coal and sal wood were in short supply while the skilled workforce was also in severe decline, thereby creating the existential crisis of Bhujpure khukuri.

Proprietor of Ranjita Khukuri Industry, Dinesh Gajmer, said, "It is difficult to find artisans, resulting in a slump in khukuri production. However, there is growing demand for the weapon. The workforce available at present are paid much for continuing the profession."

The Bhojpure khukuri is not only used as a weapon but as a gift and decoration.

Varieties of khukuris are produced in the district such as sirupate, banspate, chitlange, kothimuda, panwala, dharkhole and budune.

Hira Shrestha, who runs Urmila Furnace Industry, reminded, "When then King Mahendra visited Bhojpur in 2027BS, a local from Bokhim, Singha Bahadur BK, had gifted him a khukuri, which helped in huge publicity of this product."

In a local market, a khukuri is sold from Rs 800 to 1,800. The rural areas largely use budune and banspate types of khukuri. In addition to local use, this weapon is sold to Dharan, Udayapur, Sankhuwasabha and Kathmandu city as well.

The entrepreneurs have been demanding the governments for assisting in preservation of the khukuri industry.

Two laborers of a hydropower project went missing after being swept away by the flood in Bhojpur district on Tuesday.

According to the Chief of District Police Office Yubaraj Timsina, two workers of the under-construction Ikhuwa Hydropower Project in Salpasilichho Rural Municipality were swept away by the flood last night.

The missing persons have been identified as Timsina said that Shyam Kumar Tharu (26) and Ramesh Tharu (30) of Barabardiya Rural Municipality-3 in Bardiya district.

Ram Kisan Tharu (26) was rescued from the site and is receiving treatment at Kulung Health Post.

Police said that a search for the missing ones is going on.

Two persons died when a Bolero jeep met with an accident at Parakuwa in Dummana of Aamchowk Rural Municipality-8, Bhojpur on Monday.

The deceased have been identified as Runa Rai (27) and Shanti Rai (33) of Pangcha, Aamchowk Rural Municipality-10.

The four-wheeler (Ko 1 Ja 2617) was heading towards Maiyutar from Balanka via Dummana when the tragedy occurred.

The injured have been taken to the Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences for treatment, Inspector Dal Kumar Rai, Information Officer at the District Police Office, Bhojpur said.

Inspector Rai said that the jeep fell some 200 meters down the road.

Properties worth over Rs 2.6 million were destroyed when a fire broke out at a house in Bhojpur.

The fire started from a butter lamp lit for the Laxmi Puja ritual during Tihar festival, it is said.

The house of one Gyan Raj Bista at Bhojpur Municipality-8 was damaged in the fire caused by the lamp lit for the Laxmi Puja, destroying properties worth over Rs 2.6 million, said Inspector Dal Bahadur Rai, information officer for the district police office, Bhojpur. 

The two-storied house of Bista was burnt down due to the blaze, and clothes, food, gold ornaments worth more than Rs 2.6 million, and cash of Rs 15,000 were also destroyed, he said. The fire was doused with the help of the district police office, Nepal Army, local people and a fire engine. 

Meanwhile, a house was gutted in a fire that started from a butter lamp lit for the Laxmi Puja at Himabi of Khandbari Municipality-1 in Sankhuwasabha district.

The house belonging to one Lila Rai was destroyed last night, said Inspector Ram Kumar Lamichhane at the district police office, Sankhuwasabha.

However, there were no casualties in the blaze, he said, adding that clothes and food stored in Rai's house were burnt in the fire.

The blaze was brought under control one hour later with the help of Nepal Army, Nepal Police and local people.

Police said that Rs 31,000 cash was destroyed in the fire, and a tempo parked in the house premises was also damaged.